An AC unit sits outside a residence.
Image for illustrative purposes.
Usually, neighborly relationships devolve in a slow and painful process through a series of microaggressions that snowball and escalate. It can start as a small difference of lifestyles or belief structures. Maybe through tolerance worn down from excessive noise or other boundaries being pushed or crossed that are regarded as disrespectful.
Very seldom does everything just happen all at once. Though I guess that can be said for most failed relationships in life. Even though sometimes it might seem that way, really, the relationship had been failing for a while, and then something just came along and pushed it over the edge.
This tenant called a technician out to take a look at their broken air conditioning unit. They were surprised when the technician informed them that their neighbor’s air conditioning was connected to their circuit. The air conditioning unit that they pretty much had running all the time. The tenant’s own AC unit was broken, meaning that they were sweating it out in the summer heat while their neighbor lived in a cool home on the tenant’s dime.
See their story below that they shared with this popular online community.
My neighbor’s AC was hooked up to my electric
Location: Indiana
Basically what the title says. A technician came to look at my ac unit and said that the neighbor’s ac was hooked up to my electricity and that I’ve been paying for it. I’ve only lived where I live for a month, and have not received the electricity bill yet, but it appears like my bill will end up being $700 which is 5x more than normal for my typical energy bill. I do not feel I should have to pay for this as my normal usage is far less than this. On top of this my AC has been broken this whole time. No one should have to pay for someone else to use an amenity they can’t even use in their own unit.
I have tried calling them but they have not answered or even reached out regarding the broken AC and my electric being connected to the neighbor.
What should I do in this situation? This particular landlord is known for being very catty and literally roasting past tenants on google reviews who left bad reviews. I’m worried they will evict me or revoke the lease if I speak up or demand reparations. I’ve never sued anyone but I will if they don’t offer compensation.
I read somewhere that landlords are responsible for maintaining all common areas of the property, does that extend to utilities if they are shared between two units?
If not, what can be done?
AC units outside of a house.
Representative only.
The tenant added this edit to their story later on, providing an update as to what had happened since. They had the technician sever the wires that connected the neighbor's AC to their rental's electrical circuit. Despite getting the wires severed, the tenant is now left wondering how they should go about getting their money
*\*EDIT\**
The wires have already been severed, and I should no longer be paying for the neighbor’s electricity. I am asking for legal advice on how to retrieve the money that I should not be obligated to pay while staying in good enough standing that I can still get my AC unit fixed by my landlord.
I don’t hire technicians either, the landlord provides them, which is supposedly how this all happened in the first place. A previous company was hired to fix the neighbor’s AC and they messed up the wiring. That is, if it isn’t utility theft; I wasn’t born yesterday either. I have no solid proof it was done intentionally, only that I will be overpaying on my typical electric bill with a broken AC unit in a new rental.
The electrician removes the connected wires.
Stock photography for depiction only.
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