Tenant's right? Un-authorized electrical usage...plz advise..?

Question

We live in a small 4 units apartment complex in Oregon. I found out that the parking lot light is connected to my electric meter. So when I turn off my apartment main switch/ breaker, the whole parking lot goes dark. When I contacted my landlord, he ignored me and said that's how it was hooked up before I moved in...basically he is not gonna fix it. But I don't wanna pay for lighting (8 halogens, stays on all night) up our shared parking lot which everybody in the apartment complex uses to park. What should I do? What are my rights? Can I do something about it? Your expert opinion is appreciated.

The lights are hooked up with my dishwasher and kitchen breaker, so I can't turn that off.

Answer 1

most likely it will be illegal to force you to pay for the parking light,

best bet is to contact your local electric company they will be able to tell you rights

another note if your main switch kills the power most likely on the panel their should be a dedicated breaker, if so just throw that breaker

Answer 2

If you are being charged to light the parking lot, and you do not have a commensurate reduction in rent to compensate for the expense, simply turn off the breaker which controls the lights in the lot.

I suspect the landlord will get the message when he gets enough complaints from the other tenants. The man has no right to turn the breaker back on unless you agree to it. You're paying for the service and you get to control how much of it you use.

Answer 3

Even if your lease says you pay utilities- it doesn't mean common utilities. What it comes down to is you did not agree to pay your set rent amount plus for the parking lot lights, a landlord is normally responsible for common are lighting such as a parking lot, hallway, basement or laundry rm. Sometimes that electrical is hooked to a specific apartment- and thats perfectly fine as long as the person renting the apartment knows about it and agrees- usually they are offered a lesser rent charge taking into consideration their electric will be higher than average, sometimes the landlord will pay the electric bills and include that in their rent.

Unless it is stated otherwise on your lease - then IT IS ILLEGAL for your landlord to have the parking lot lights hooked to your service. First contact the electric company and let them know - just incase you bill gets to high and you can't pay it, and if you landlord refuses to correct the problem- then take him to court about it, just go to the housing court/small claims court in your area- usually part of the superior court, file a complaint and the courts will present him with the complaint and give him the option of fixing it on his own, if he still refuses they will set up a date you will have to show up - and they will force him to either remove those lights and set up a electric bill he will have to pay for it- or possible he may agre to lower your rent in exchange for you paying for the lights being on.
either way someting has to be done about it- that can add up to alot of money over the months/years.

Answer 4

There is something called landlord-tenant laws. Look this up online and you should be able to print out the laws. The law is on the tenants side in most cases. I think what is happening to you is not legal. Perhaps if the parking lot lighting charges were split up among all the tenants it may be more questionable. You may also be entitled to reimbursement for part of all of the billing of such.

Answer 5

What does your contract say ?
Turn off the breaker that the lights are on.
You may talk to your local HUD office ?
Talk to a local at-torney .

If you are handy or know of someone handy with electric , have the wire removed at the breaker that goes to the lights.

Answer 6

See what your lease says. If it says you are to pay the utilities for your apartment, you've got him! Unfortunately, you may have to move out as a hostile situation is now created. You can deduct the estimated usage from the rent and give it to him via certified letter and then wait until he either fixes it or accepts your estimate or tries to throw you out for "nonpayment of rent". By showing you made an effort to settle the problem (certified letter), no judge will award him anything..You can countersue him for the costs of you having to relocate. What he's doing isn't right.

Answer 7

Landlord tenant relations may be found in the white pages of your phone book. You city may have a group that handles this depending on where you live. In case you don't here is the laws governing each state.