'This is only the beginning of the craziness': Greedy landlord raises roommate's rent for using two ceiling fans in summer

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 13, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Living with a landlord is like having an RA roommate in college. They're probably gonna narc on you at some point. We all bend the rules every now and then, as is our right. We have to exercise our own selfishness sometimes, or else it's going to come out in weird ways. Adults (at least most of the ones I know) need to enact a little rebellion every now and then to remind us we're alive. But if you're living with the rule enforcer, that becomes a little harder to do. 

But the wild thing is, that's not even what happened in this recent Reddit story from a tenant who ran into landlord troubles. They weren't even breaking the rules. They were just running the fans in their room, which to my mind, is what they're there for. But that didn't stop this overreaching landlord from being an overreaching landlord. Read on for the details. 

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  • 01
    "I cant sleep if I'm sweating"
    via Jason Anderson
  • 02
    r/Renters u/Lumpy_Staff_2372. 4d Can they legally do this?
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 03
    ■ill cricket 7:52 AM 30% 1/2 Isabella > I want to tell you that for next month. I'm going to raise your rent because you are using the two airs you have in the room. Do you remember that I told you that the light had been turned up? I know that you sleep late. why are you playing your game + Today 7:34 AM I'm not playing any games. It's too hot in my room. I cant sleep if I'm sweating Im not paying you more money Do you think I put the fans on for no reason? Its because its hot. So unless its no
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 04
    ■■ll cricket 7:52 AM 30% Isabella > I know that you sleep late. why are you playing your game 2/2 Today 7:34 AM I'm not playing any games. It's too hot in my room. I cant sleep if I'm sweating Im not paying you more money Do you think I put the fans on for no reason? Its because its hot. So unless its not hot... im going to use the fans in the summer time. Not just me... literally anyone who would live in this room. Its too hot. You need to fix that if you're going to keep complaining about the
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 05
    Landlord is threatening to raise my rent because I use fans at night while sleeping. In my defense it's extremely hot in the room i'm renting and they refuse to turn the AC up....
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 06
    Latter-Shower-9888-4d Check your lease terms. Leases where landlords pay the utilities could contain a provision that allows a rent increase if the utility costs go up. If your lease contains any such provision, then it is probably legal. Are the utilities part of the lease spelled out specifically? Like you pay X in rent and X in utilities? If it's specifically listed in your lease, and there's no change clauses, he probably can't change anything. Side question - fans shouldn't run up the elect
    via u/Latter-Shower-9888
  • 07
    Lumpy_Staff_2372 OP 4d • This is going to sound ridiculous but when I initially moved in here I had to find a place to move asap so I found this room for rent in a condo that has two roommates, one being the "landlord" (i think). I asked if there was any lease to sign but instead insisted it wasn't necessary? I didn't think much of it because the rent was only $600 and it was the fastest and easiest place to move into. Tldr: there is no lease and the two fans I use are a ceiling fan that was pre
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 08
    plantsandpizza • 4d As someone who ran ceiling fans non stop at my old house I can assure you they don't use that much electricity to charge someone more.
    via u/plantsandpizza
  • 09
    ryeguy1979. 4d Move. Asap. Your roommate (not a landlord, you have no lease) is a lunatic. This is only the beginning of the craziness you'll experience here if you stay. Get out.
    via u/ryeguy1979
  • 10
    ThrowawayLL8877 • 3d I lived with an owner 4 times. 3 times were great. 4th time the guy was entering my room to "open up for fresh air". Moved in less than 30 days.
    via u/ThrowawayLL8877
  • 11
    Lumpy_Staff_2372 OP. 3d Update: i bought an indoor thermometer and a battery powered desk fan to use in the meantime while i look for another place to live. That way if they complain again, i can prove it's too hot and the fan wouldn't use their power.
    via u/Lumpy_Staff_2372
  • 12
    Ambitious_Temporary1 • 3d Depending on the laws in your area, a landlord is required to notify you, in writing, at least 30 days in advance of any rent increase. Even if it's just a penny increase.
    via u/Ambitious_Temporary1
  • 13
    Fungiblefaith. 4d A ceiling fan cost about .06 USD a day to full of left on 24/7. A small fan would be less let's call it .10 cent a day USD. Give the a 5 bucks and tell him to shut the up about it and run it full tilt boogie.
    via u/Fungiblefaith
  • 14
    lady_mb. 3d If there's no active lease, get out quick. And don't live with a landlord again, no end of headaches!
    via u/lady__mb
  • 15
    CAHOY holl0455 3d "2 airs" and "the light had been turned up"...who talks like this? The electricity bill is higher because it's summer and I assume there is some sort of air conditioning in the apartment. It's not because of the extra fan that you use. Small fans and ceiling fans make negligible changes in the energy bill.
    via u/holl0455
  • 16
    NectarineAny4897 • 4d This situation is not likely to get better. I would start looking for a new place. In a month to month, they might only need to give you 30 days to vacate. Why not hold off on rocking the boat until you know how much more you are discussing? Depending on a lot of factors, it might be worth it to just pony up with a little more cheddar.
    via u/NectarineAny4897
  • 17
    Big-Tomatillo-5920 - 3d Seriously, how much energy does a fan use. Good lord. I'd start looking for a new place.
    via u/Big-Tomatillo-5920
  • 18
    Strict-Revenue-5131 • 3d Weak kids these days can't even survive on 1 airs
    via u/Strict-Revenue-5131
  • 19
    Sbkohai_ • 3d Tell them to itemize the electricity costs if they can. Fans pull almost no energy cost monthly so good luck to them raising rent a few cents on this one.
    via u/Sbkohai_

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greedy landlord landlord house bad roommates tenant landlords reddit story psycho roommate tenants reddit renting reddit thread Reddit roommates fans money apartment
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