Q: I live in a house with four separate units. Two in the front (up and down) and two in the back (up and down).
The front two units have a separate basement and attic and the same goes for the back units. The landlord has padlocked both basements and attics, giving us no access. When I asked using the attic for storage, he said that's an extra 30 dollars a month. When asked about the basement, he never responded back. Nowhere in the lease agreement says anything about charging extra for storage. He also keeps the backyard padlocked as well. There's nothing back there, not even a tool shed. Does any of this sounds right? I had to call him just to have a breaker reset because I don't have access to the basement. I was using a space heater. Today he sent a letter stating that if anyone uses a space heater and he has to send someone out to reset the breakers, he's charging an additional fee. That's not on the lease either.
A: Landlord might impose additional fees, and might be wrong in doing that. But if tenant doesn't pay, then landlord can file an eviction action, and the court will decide whether tenant must pay. But even if tenant wins, an eviction is a permanent court record that can make it difficult for tenant to rent from a landlord who checks the records. So try to work it out with landlord to avoid that. If landlord doesn't cooperate, then you could look for a new place.
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