Problem with Landlord Repair…

By Francine

I need help and I have no idea where to turn. My GA Power bill for the service period of 11-25-08 thru 12-30-08 was $330.38!! I have lived in this apt complex for 5 years and I have never had a GA Power bill that high before. I live in a one bedroom loft apartment 1013 square feet. I have spoken with other tenants in the complex with larger units whose bills are a THIRD of my bill. GA Power suggests that I set my thermostat at 68 degrees if I were to set my thermostat that low I’d freeze. I have always (at the direction of maintenance) had to set my thermostat to at least 78 degrees in the winter in order for it to be a comfortable temperature in my unit. And even in that I have never had a $300 GA Power bill. Management at my apt complex tells me maintenance came out and says there’s no problem. I always turn the thermostat down each day when I leave for work and after I got the first high bill I did whatever else I could to make the next bill lower but it was even higher $345.41!!! I was getting no assistance from the front office and maintenance so I called a heating & air company for an independent inspection. At which point I was told the apt has an electric heat pump system and the technician found the system empty with an “existing leak on the system”. When he left my apt was warmer than it has been in a very long time. Well that quickly ended last night I ended up having to just turn it off all together b/c once again it was not heating. The temperature is getting ready to drop again here in GA. I do not know what to do. I already feel like I have been overpaying on my electric bills for several years now b/c as far back as I can remember I have had to call maintenance out each summer and each winter b/c of the system wasn’t cooling or heating. My bills have always spiked but I thought that was normal. It wasn’t until it spiked to $300 and until I spoke with other tenants in larger units whose bills were only $125 that I really knew there was a problem. My electric bills have never been that low in the winter/summer. I have to pay the $330.38 by 2/25/09 or the electric will be shut off I used $231 of that when I called the technician out for an independent inspection. And now I’m back to square one on not having any heat. Please help. What do I do?

Edited on: Thursday, January 17th, 2013 4:56 am

3 Responses to “Problem with Landlord Repair…”

My response: (We welcome stories, examples, explanations, answers and a touch of your personality)
 

PropDude

February 18th, 2009 2:09 pm

First of all, management needs to get the system working properly. Now that you have proof from an independant heating and air conditioning company you should be able to use that as leverage. The facts are that the unit is not working properly and needs to be fixed. I will say that 78 degrees is extremely high! I personally keep my home at 70 degrees, which is comfortable. You won’t freeze if you lower the heat to 70 or 72. Most commercial companies keep the heat around 72 degrees. 78 degrees is too much!
I would try to resolve the problem with management, or you can file a landlord complaint with the RPA. There is a link at the top of this page. Management most likely will not take any responsibility for the utility bill. I’m sure it is excluded in the contract you signed. But they should fix the heat pump right away.


PropDude

February 18th, 2009 2:10 pm

Also– as for the GA Heating bill. I suggest calling them to set-up a payment plan. Most utility companies are willing to work with payment plans. Call them and see what they are willing to do. Don’t let them shut off the power or you could be in breach of contract and be evicted.


Renter

February 19th, 2009 1:10 pm

I bet you could get your landlord to pay the electric bill if you force the issue. I mean come on, they were told about the problem several times and never fixed it. I would be mad. you’ve got to do something.


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