All Forum Posts by: Penny Alexander

Well, to answer your question, I did not pick this place out, my husband did. I just requested a place out in the country with space. But alot of what is the problem you wouldn't have seen in the summer either. They have changed out many windows to vinyl and those are leaking as bad or worst than the wood ones. Yes I have put caulk and weather stripping around, and the plastic over the windows has helped a lot. I even pulled up a piece of siding in the middle of the wall to see if there was insulation under it which they said there was but nope! Im sure they won't let me put in a stove or i would if I was going to stay here. We heated our house 20 years ago with a buck stove and it was wonderful.

Well, thanks for all your input, I know the answer I'm just not wanting to rock the boat. I was hoping if I got a housing authority or the like to put pressure on I'd prefer that. We'll see when I take my rent down tomorrow and talk to the boss lady what transpires.

Well, 48 degrees is it believe it or not.
After I got the gas leaks fixed I have bumped it up to 55 and am watching to see how much the tank goes down. Yep!! believe me, its cold. The doors to the kitchen both close and with the blanket up between the dining and living room I can heat that one room up pretty comfortably with the space heaters (3). When you go into the kitchen its like opening up the outside door. I hope his stupid pipes freeze. I don't complain about stuff, as I said I own 6 condos and 2 houses that I rent. I fix stuff. I have gone thru 7 tubes of caulk so far and 2 cans of foam insulation. Example, when the gas co. came I had them pull out the gas stove to check for leaks behind it and there was no baseboard behind it. A ton of cold air was coming right in. Its still not fixed. I'm tempted to fix it myself and I just may. i shouldn't have to, I have already fixed a ton of stuff around here no charge which I don't mind, the outside light was falling off, quit working, one wire came undone, I fixed it, the railing was falling off, I fixed it, faucets leaking, I fixed them. I am not a whiner but I sure don't like paying out my nose and be cold. I can't imagine what it would cost me for gas if I really did turn up the heat to 70. That would be a tank a month. I don't think so. I just feel there is a certain amount of responsibility that this landlord I know should have and its not happening. I even gave him a beautiful full length glass storm door that I had taken off another house thinking that it would help keep the wind from coming in and he still hasn't put it up yet. I think I'm going to take it down and put it on one of my condos instead, I have a limit to my kindness, the fact its been sitting here 6 months and he hasn't put it up

We have been here since August 1st. I have vacation property (6) that I manage long distance and upkeep so I am not unaware of the care of property. Since I am new to this state, I thought there might be some building codes or housing authority or inspector that they would have to abide by. In Va. Beach you have to have the house inspected before it can be rented. Although, you wouldn't notice this problem unless it is cold. I plan on paying my rent but I am going to write them a letter along with it and also mail a copy to the owner. The owner himself (very wealthy) told me they don't like to put money into the house. Your right, I don't pay a lot of rent $650 but its about right for the rural area that it is in. I like the property cause it has about 3 acres on which I can park my cars, jetski, trailers, and I also drive a straight truck. I am renting until I get to know the area better to decide where I want to live. I don't expect the taj mahul but I don't expect to pay $800+ in utilities a month with the thermostat at 48 degrees!!

I am renting a farm house and its old. It has 2 - 15 light exterior doors on it. The wind come in all around the doors, which have weather stripping around them and thru each of the 15 pains of glass. The doors need to be replace very bad but the owner will not replace them. I have plastic up over the whole door(s) and use the basement door which means I have to walk around the other side of the house to the driveway thru the snow, carrying groceries etc. I have also complained about the very large use of propane gas to heat this house. I have the temp set at 48 degrees and filled it 12/6 @ $600 and its almost empty already. I have closed off rooms and put a blanket up between the dining room and living room to help keep 1 room warm. I have plastic up over the windows etc. I get no help from the mgmt co. about the gas so I called the gas company myself, found 2 leaks, 1 inside and a major one outside. I need to pay my rent for this month but thinking about only paying 1/2 of it. I thought when you complained about a issue they had only 14 days to get it fixed. It is costing me a lot of money for gas and electric and I'm freezing. Can't even "live" in the whole house cause its so cold. Like today, I'm in my bedroom with a little space heater keeping me warm. It would be different if we were warm but were cold paying out the ying yang for fuel. What can I do? Can I force the landlord to make these repairs? I manage my own vacation properties and I know how things should be kept and this is unexcuseable for the landlord.