Rental Questions Answered!
Dear Apartments.com,
Okay, I’m living in an apartment by myself for the first time and I’m really short. I have a hard time doing things in the apartment like changing the light bulbs and getting things down off shelves. I’ve been calling the building maintenance people sometimes but I really think they’re starting to get annoyed with me. What exactly is included in my rent and what things should I be doing myself?Stumpy in Stanford, CT
Dear Stumpy,
Unfortunately, your landlord may not be very sympathetic to the fact that you’re having problems reaching things in your apartment. It is better to ask a friend or neighbor for help. As for the light bulbs, they fall under the category of “routine maintenance” which should be described in your lease. Look for the “lawn mowing and snow removal clause” as this usually accompanies other routine maintenance tasks. If you see the clause it means that you are responsible for changing light bulbs, replacing washers, etc. Even if this clause is in your lease, I would still consider asking for help when the landlord or maintenance worker is around the building. Hopefully he/she will understand that you are not trying to abuse the lease but rather just need a helping hand.
Dear Apartments.com,
Dude, I’m totally broke and I’m freaking out. I’m in an apartment that has pretty cheap rent, but my car was all messed up this week and I had to fix it in order to get back and forth to work. I’m about $200 short on my rent and there’s no way that I’m going to be able to pay it by the time it’s due. How do I break the news to my landlord without getting evicted?
Cashless in Corpus Christi, TX
Dear Cashless,
This seems like a tricky case but the best course of action is to be polite (VERY polite) and know what your options are. First, read your lease to determine what late fees apply. A landlord can only charge you a late fee if it is explicitly stated in the lease. However, seeing as you are breaking the lease by not paying you rent on time, it is in your best interest to pay a reasonable late fee if your landlord requests one. This will deter him/her from wanting to evict you. Write your landlord a letter explaining the circumstances and the date that you will pay the rent. Assure your landlord that this was an emergency situation and that it will not happen again in the future. You should also offer to pay whatever part you can immediately. Be sure you have the landlord’s permission to pay late in writing BEFORE sending a late check, as in most states a landlord can start the eviction process if rent is even one day late. In the future, I recommend getting an emergency-only credit card to be used for situations like this. Pay car or medical bills with credit and save cash for the rent.
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