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  1. #1

    Default Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Connecticut


    I was wondering what my landlords are responsible for paying because of an appliance that was not replaced, after having an issue with it already and informing them.

    The bill was over $650 for 32 days. We lived in a larger apartment, with hot water and heat as part of the electric and only paid $150 tops and our water here is heated by propane, not electric. There is no way 2 people could make an electric bill that high using a few lights, some base bord heating in the small 12x10 bedroom, as we live in a quonset hut, which is a circular roof/rectangular metal/insulated 650 sq ft space.

    Because we are not allowed to change appliances are they responsible for some of this bill because it was not replaced?

    The fridge was a 24 years old, and in ok condition, but was missing shelves and drawers and I asked for it to be replaced. This was before it was sucking energy up so badly. There is no way I can pay the rent and the electric bill!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    Michigan
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    28,906

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    How many months have you been in the unit? Can you see your electric meter? When it's spinning like mad, unplug the refrigerator and see how much difference it makes. That would be an astonishing electrical bill even for a broken refrigerator. I am wondering if there's another unit, or something outside of your unit, that is tied into your meter.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    Quote Quoting aaron
    View Post
    How many months have you been in the unit? Can you see your electric meter? When it's spinning like mad, unplug the refrigerator and see how much difference it makes. That would be an astonishing electrical bill even for a broken refrigerator. I am wondering if there's another unit, or something outside of your unit, that is tied into your meter.
    we've been here since dec 5th so 2 month's in a week and 2 days.

    We verified that it was indeed the fridge, and it has been replaced. They are going to take the amount of $150 that we paid for the new fridge from the rent of $800. The meter was at 130 kw per hour with the broken fridge and us using the pellet stove for heat. We recently had a chimney fire because the landlord (husband) put the thing in wrong, and we've been using base board heat the past day and a half. The meter is at 90 kw per hour now, which is much lower, and we're using inefficient heating of which is 60% of that reading.

    We are a free standing house, on a rural road.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    Our lease says we must keep things repaired on our own but nothing about us replacing them. The fridge was one of the things I asked to be replaced in the stay of our lease and it was agreed upon when needed, which was the day we moved in and I found that the bottom shelf and drawers. We called and asked if it'd be replaced, gave some time for them to look for one they wanted to get. We haven't heard about it until I opened my electric bill and found $500 more then 2 people could possibly use.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    And then you told your landlord. And then the refrigerator was replaced by you, with your landlord agreeing to pick up the tab via a deduction from your rent.

    Other than by failing to anticipate that the refrigerator would break in a most unusual way, driving up your electric bill, what is it that you believe your landlord did wrong? I'm not saying that the outcome is fair, mind you, but if your landlord acted (or authorized you to act) as soon as the problem was reported, what duty do you believe was violated?

  6. #6

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    It had been asked to be replaced upon signing the lease, and she failed to do so, thus leading to my first bill being $500 more then I've ever spent on a utility bill. She had wanted to find one so that she wouldn't have to deduct the amount from the rent. There was spray paint all over it, and over 23 years old, how would anyone assume I wouldn't have asked for it to be replaced on signing the lease. We just had trouble with our previous landlords and made sure that things were agreed upon before signing anything.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    Im still looking for an answer!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    To what?

  9. #9

    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    To what?

    Exactly what my landlords are responsible to pay for, as the fridge was supposed to be replaced within the first few weeks we were there. The fridge started up the second month we were there, and there is no way to maintain a 24 year old fridge since they no longer make parts for it, and we did not have permission to replace it until the 2nd issue arose. AND now, we have no wood pellet stove because they installed it wrong, and there was a chimney fire. We have had to use the base board heat which is more costly, and the whole reason we moved in was because it was supposed to be efficient. Its pushing 3 weeks for the pellet stove not being replaced.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Astronomical Utility Bill Due to Old Fridge

    You told us your landlord agreed to pay for the new fridge.

    Other than your complaining that the fridge was old and ugly, neither of which are grounds for a money claim, you haven't given any reason why your landlord would be liable for more than that.

    We're not psychics. If you have a new complaint about an unrepaired pellet stove, you need to tell us about it.

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