Landlord didn't fix draft in time so am I able to ask for some money back due to increase in utilities?

Submitted by lemoncurd_98 t3_zykbt9 in washingtondc

This may be the wrong sub but I wanted to try here first since renting issues are pretty location specific. Over the weekend during the cold weather, the temp in our house dropped below 60 degrees. We cranked the heater but it barely helped. I don't believe our heater is broken. I think it's because of the gaps in between the floorboards and the walls as well as the poor seal around the windows. Our landlord came on Christmas Eve to fill some of the cracks and our indoor temp jumped 70. I just checked with pepco and now our bill is $40 more than usual.

Although winter is finally here so my electric bill is going to be up regardless. I do feel like if the landlord handled this earlier it wouldn't have jumped so much so fast. Am I able to ask my landlord to help contribute to my electric bill? In their price breakdown, it says my bill went up $37.25 due to increased usage. This is definitely from the draft since we usually keep our apartment at 70-72 degrees. So is it wild for me to ask my landlord for that $37.25 or even just a credit off our rent?

Also important to note, the landlord was aware of this problem and kept mentioning that she needed to handle it any time she came over for other issue. She just forgot to do so until we called that morning. I'm unsure if I have a written record of this, but I can check with my partner.

If someone can direct me to a diff sub if no one knows, that'd be very helpful. Have a happy new year everyone!

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Deanocracy t1_j26c26l wrote

Our landlord came on Christmas Eve to fill some of the cracks and our indoor temp jumped 70.

Its $40… move on.

I say that bluntly but graciously

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lemoncurd_98 OP t1_j26c9aa wrote

I understand your point, but $40 means a lot because we live paycheck to paycheck. That means more food or more down on our credit card. If I could just simply pay and move on, I would.

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leafonawall t1_j29zsyk wrote

The downvotes are so crass. It’s not up to anyone else to determine what amount is negligible/write off in someone else’s life. Especially when someone clearly states that it’s significant for them. “Even if” it’s $40.

OP, I don’t have helpful info but just wanted to validate you.

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lemoncurd_98 OP t1_j2a4hvn wrote

Thank you I appreciate it! I didn’t expect people being so aggravated by this question but I do understand the point of not hassling my landlord over it because she did what she could do in the time frame. I do wish I could just simply not have to worry about $40. One day tho

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Deanocracy t1_j26tv7g wrote

I’ve been pretty strapped in my life… working retail school etc paying for it all.

I cannot appreciate a $40 fluctuation being this difficult.

$400? Yeah. Been there.

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FxTree-CR2 t1_j2adi61 wrote

There was a time when $40 in my account for a week was all I had after bills.

If a $400 fluctuation is what trips you, then you’re fortunate.

Still, OP should take the L and move on. Fighting it will cost more in any foreseeable scenario — including winning.

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lemoncurd_98 OP t1_j26u89n wrote

Um okay…? I’m glad it hasn’t gotten there for you. It is for me. And both experiences can be valid. I hope you still aren’t working paycheck to paycheck anymore.

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Deanocracy t1_j26ulzl wrote

I’m not no.

Do you ever find it valuable for others to help you better understand the appropriate response to a new situation?

If so… its at the start of this thread.

If otherwise you got it handled… hope its a great ‘23

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RemySchnauzer t1_j26ky7m wrote

I think it would be really difficult to prove that the $40 difference is solely attributable to the draft. In the future, it's a good idea to have a space heater on hand so you don't have to crank your heat if the temperature drops or something like this happens. Just something that I learned having a drafty apartment!

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lemoncurd_98 OP t1_j26mb5n wrote

Yeah we got some. So I guess it is lesson learned

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Illin-ithid t1_j26zjam wrote

Bad all around. First, An increase in electric due to it being cold is normal and comparing the coldest week of the year to previous months is not accurate. Second, You asked your landlord to make a change and they did it on Christmas Eve. They've also regularly been fixing things. That's a pretty good landlord. Burning them over $10 is likely to teach them to respond with "The condition of the windows is the same upon move in and while it may take slightly higher utilities That's why the unit is priced slightly lower".

Overall while it may be annoying that you had to deal with that, it's probably best to chock some things up to people being human. That type of flexibility will likely net better results than repaying Christmas Eve work by asking for money back.

If bills are tight due to utilities you might also qualify for DC's utility assistance program.

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lemoncurd_98 OP t1_j26zyj0 wrote

Thank you for contextualizing it like this! I already decided to bite the bullet but this helps me feel better and that I would be a dickhead otherwise. Budgeting right now is quite stressful for me but landlord is definitely better than many I’ve had in the past. Have a good new year!

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LessDramaLlama t1_j27bgnc wrote

You have a right to heat, 68° during the day and 65° overnight from October 1 to May 1. It sounds like you reported the problem when you could no longer maintain those temps in the unit and like the landlord fixed it reasonably quickly in spite of the holiday weekend.

Typically, the only time you can deduct from your rent is if you yourself must make the repair because the landlord has not responded within a reasonable amount of time or if the repair is necessary immediately to ensure the safety and habitability of your residence.

While I don’t doubt your bill was higher this month, the outdoor temperatures alone can cause that even when a building is in good repair. There’s no way to prove what portion was due to poor weatherproofing.

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Unofficial_Troll t1_j2a3r4v wrote

Just be happy the landlord actually fixed something rather than saying there was no issue before you. lol

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