What can i do about my neighbor using my water?

Question

My neighbor is also my landlord. We have caught him hooking his hose up to our water spicket to water his garden and give his dog a bath. Our electric bill has tripled because of this. I'm scared to confront him because im afraid he will evict us. I just found out that he did this to the last tenant, and then evicted them when they confronted him. Of course, if i knew about this early, we would have never moved here. We can afford to move someone else right now. But the police arent doing anything because he is really good friends with the police.

Where i live, our 'electri bill' consists of the electricity er use, and the water we use. Its 2 bills in 1

I didn't know i could buy a lock for the water spigot. Thats a good idea, thanks!

Okay, ill say it again since some of you didnt understand......In the town i live in, our 'Electric Bill' consist's of both the electricity we use, and the water we use. Its 2 different things, but they put it all on one bill. So, him using our water is making the bill go up.

Answer 1

Hmmm, that's a tough one. I don't know what kind of system you have that the water is using electricity, I'm a little curious about that.
The best way is open dialogue about the situation. Perhaps his own place doesn't have an outdoor faucet or it isn't working properly. He probably feels like he has a right to yours because the house belongs to him. If you explain to him that the usage is causing higher bills for you, hopefully you can come up with a compromise of some sort. Some kind of compensation.
The police would probably not interfere because this is a purely civil matter.
It seems similar to this example: A hallway light that all tenants need and use is actually drawing off the 1st floor tenants electricity. What can the landlord do? Costly wiring? I believe in this situation the landlord is responsible for paying the electric bill, but can certainly raise the rent to whatever he wants to cover "electricity included"
The problem here is that you have entered into a business agreement with someone who you don't trust and can't communicate effectively with.
If you want a government agency to intervene, call the housing department in your town for advice. It is possible that they can give you the number for an agency that does energy audits. An enery audit will tell how much electricity the spigot actually uses and housing can inform you of your rights and how to protect them. The energy audit as also a great way to save money and many towns offer them for free. Some will also replace energy hogging appliances or put in insulation if you qualify.
You need to document your concerns in writing to your landlord and then he is not supposed to be able to retaliate against you for actions taken to protect your rights.
Will this actually work? I'm sure he can find any reason he likes to evict you but it will cost you both money in the end. It isn't easy to evict someone as long as they pay the rent on time and in full, keep paying the rent, look for a new place, and save your money . Even if he begins eviction proceedings against you, you can face the judge, tell him that you believe it is retaliation for this incident, that you are looking for other accomodations etc. He should grant you enough time to do so.
You're in a tough spot and the best bet is to level with this guy. Having tenants come and go costs him money and you may find him more willing to strike a deal than you think.

Answer 2

I don't know if this is true for THIS questioner, but if he is on a WELL, and the landlord uses HIS water, that well has a PUMP which runs on the electricity PAID FOR BY THE TENANT..... If there is a water meter, the water USAGE is also PAID FOR BY THE TENANT and not the landlord .... that is how someone ELSE using a person's water COULD triple an electric bill or a water bill ...... The landlord should know better and I'm with the guy who says take the water tap off and cap up the pipe---should give the landlord SOME indication that he shouldn't be using YOUR water source for HIS pleasure.... if he puts another tap on, take that one off too and send him a CERTIFIED LETTER as to why you took the tap off and put in this CERTIFIED LETTER exactly what he's been costing you----THEN, if he TRIES to evict you SOLELY on the basis of your letter, when you get to court (he can't just toss you out unless you GO without a court hearing)---then you bring your bills that show the excessive use by the landlord of the water/electricity, YOUR letter to the landlord and all your rent receipts so the landlord cannot say you haven't paid your rent.... then there will be NO reason for the eviction and the court will NOT let the landlord evict you---fight fire with fire here....

Answer 3

I'm still trying to figure out how his using your water has tripled your electric bill. Whatever, he's still guilty of theft. A few ideas:

The easiest solution would be to put a lock on the spigot. You can get them at any hardware store. Also, many spigots have a shutoff valve inside the house. Shut that off and lock it as well.

Catch him on tape and file a complaint with the DA or Prosecuting Attorney -- skip the cops if he's buddies with any of them.

Have an attorney send him a letter ordering him to Cease & Desist. Follow up with suit in Small Claims Court for the cost of the water stolen.

He CANNOT evict you for confronting him about theft of YOUR utilities. (Well, OK, if you lose it and cold-conk him he can, so keep your cool!)

Answer 4

Can you hook up a valve in that water line on the inside of your residence so you can turn the water on and off at your leisure? If so, I would be doing that, so when YOU need to use the spigot you can just turn your valve on, when finished just turn it off.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 5

How does using water up your electricity bill? If it is a case of hot water, shut off the hot water valve going to the outdoor spicket. Or just shut off the spicket entirely if you are not using it. If you can afford to move somewhere else, let the guy evict you and move.

Answer 6

Take a movie of it being done, on several occasions and then confront him and tell hi not to do it again, unles he chips in for the bill, and if he threatens you with eviction you will take him to court and reprot this abuse to the State's Housing Authority.

Answer 7

Get it on camera. Don't you watch People's court? Document everything. See if you can contact the previous person that got evicted and get a testimonial from them. Arm yourself with detailed info: bills before and after he started "stealing"your water. Hopefully you can sue this thief.

Answer 8

Get evidence of his theft of services you pay for. Then file a police report.

If he moves to evict you, you then have a case for retaliatory eviction.

Good luck.

Answer 9

And that is exactly why he's doing this and getting away with it! Go rent the movie "Pacific Heights" with Michael Keaton & Melanie Griffith. You have rights, as a tenant, you don't have to pay for his abuse of anything in your name. Please, go and get a lawyer or public defender. Don't let this person continue to use and abuse your hard earned cash.

Answer 10

First, remove the handle from the spigot. He might get the hint.