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PoorInCT t1_j49vjsp wrote

There are crappy landlords who didnt want to pay for appropriate metering or the wiring to keep circuits separate. If you have access to your meter shut everything down for as long as you can and see if the meter moves. Document everything.

You may be crossed wired to another apartment or to hall lights or even a laundry room.

Also alot, but not all, of meters are now "smart" ones and you can check daily use on eversource. If you paying for anything but your own usage, report the theft to the police and landlord. But if your lease says you have to pay for things that are common area then you would have to move.

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Lords_of_Lands t1_j4a23c7 wrote

Even if you're not a crappy landlord you still can't do it. I contacted a bunch of electricians and they all flaked out. The one I did manage to contract disappeared before they finished.

Plus the 20k-30k cost to separate everything (real quotes), don't complain about your high rent.

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PoorInCT t1_j4a7wqh wrote

Its theft if not disclosed in a lease, and you are the thief. There is no way you should not have known that the wiring was defective. ..in most states its criminal but realistically the prosecutor will give you a chance to pay back the tenants and redo the wiring.

Otherwise, as a civil matter, you still cant steal tenants electricity. A smart tenant can recover damages, punitive damages, and force you to do the work while the lease is valid...realistically you would pay their whole electric bill for the term of the lease plus meet some reasonable demands.

Im amazed at how few tenants know their rights. The state needs a tenants association...join with a small yearly fee..learn their rights and get hooked up with an attorney if their claims are realistic. You could get a good rating and get a premium on rent for doing things right.

You know that you can charge as a high a rent as you want...just dont count on being paid if the tenant hits hard times. But you cant lie.

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Lords_of_Lands t1_j4ab16i wrote

It's not defective wiring. It's systems put in place decades ago before current hosing codes. They're all grandfathered in and are fine to keep in place until you upgrade part of the system.

Yes you have to disclose, I never commented on that. I was pointing out updating it to modern standards isn't a trivial task.

You don't need an association, you just need to do some basic research. If you're unwilling to put in the time for that you'd be unwilling to read the association's paperwork too: https://www.apartments.com/rental-manager/resources/state-laws/new-hampshire

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PoorInCT t1_j4abeg5 wrote

I think an association would be a great idea for everyone.

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