housing frustrations

[ashewoman]

Yesterday, when I got home from the appt. at the college to try and go back to school, the housing inspector knocked on my door.  Seriously, I'd barely sat down.  If I had known how it was going to turn out I might have been less forthcoming about the problems with this apt.  So I have a leak that I've had since I moved in a year ago and it has caused mildew all over my ceiling in the bedroom and a black mark around the light fixture.  Come to think of it, the inspector probably would have seen if for himself if I hadn't complained, but it's too late now to do anything.  People who don't rent don't really understand how little protection there is in the Southern and Eastern United States areas for renters.  In some states, if your dishwasher doesn't work, you can refuse rent until it does, but here... the landlord has all the rights with the exception of when you have federal funds involved. I get federal housing assistance thanks to my disabled veteran's status. Once a year, there is an inspection and the inspector has all the power-- not the tenant or the landlord. 

When I first moved in I called the property manager for maybe the first 6 months I lived here, but they never fixed the leak and insinuated I was becoming a problem renter for complaining so I finally resigned myself to having a slum lord and stopped rocking the boat.  It's more important to have a place to live than to piss off the landlord in these matters usually when the laws don't protect renters.
But noooooo, the inspector totally blew me out of the water with his news.  He says the mildew is unhealthy. The ceiling is sagging which is dangerous. That black mark is an electrical burn from mixing water and electricity and that's why so many of my lights keep shorting out. All of these things makes it illegal for him to approve my rent here.  And finally, none of those smaller things will help unless the roof is replaced.  If they don't replace the roof before two months is up, he isn't going to approve me and I'll have to flipping move. 

I freaked.  The inspector wasn't really worried because he's not the one who'll have to move.  He's thinking I'm just upset because it's an inconvenience.  He says "Don't worry! I have a long list of places I can give you that'll be much better and you'll like them better and be safer.  This place is a death trap and you don't want to live here."  My brother agreed with the inspector.  He was like "Well heck yeah, if its a fire hazard and they won't fix it, you can't keep living there."  But I'm having a hard time getting over the stress moving is going to cause me, and I won't know exactly what is going to happen until they officially refuse to fix it because they will want to get every penny they can for me living here as long as possible.  But if these people don't want to pay to put a lock on the back door or bother stopping the leak in the bathroom... how likely do you think they are going to be to fork out serious cash on a new roof for an old building they'd just as soon tear down and sell the lot on? I'm guessing not very likely.  Roofs cost a lot. This building is just an eyesore and a money pit right now.  How is the tiny little amount they get paid for housing me going to even out what it will cost them to replace the roof?  It's so frustrating and stressful to think about.  I'd have been willing to put up with the problems for years if it meant I didn't have to pack up and find another place again.  The cheapest thing they can do is let my lease expire next month and rent it to some unsuspecting person paying cash a month later who doesn't have to pass a federal inspection to rent. 

The inspector is going to give them 30 days and then they will probably give me 30 days to get out.  So I've got to be prepared to go in the next two months, but its not like I can just go... I'll have to wait until its final and I'm told "NOW you need to go."  I don't know how the heck I'm going to do it.  I have a hard time with this fatigue and RA pain from the Sjogren's doing normal housekeeping much less packing and moving.  It's distressing on so many levels and now I'm not even allowed to turn on the lights in my bedroom.  The inspector thinks I'll get electrocuted or start a fire.  And that's only just beginning.  It took me 3 months after I moved in to calm down enough to seem sort of sane to the casual observer because moving stresses me out bad with the PTSD.  I don't mean to go on and on about it, but I'm not happy at all right now. 

[Crymeariver]

I'm sorry you had to live in such sub-standard housing for a whole year.  I'm glad the inspector has healthier options for you.  The apartment really is unsafe.  Maybe if you do a little everyday it won't be so overwhelming at the end. 

[irish]

I am sorry that you have such a mess in your life. However, I think there is only one solution and that is to move and get it over with.

Yes, the mold/mildew can be unhealthy and can affect your health and maybe make your sjogrens worse. Also, I can't believe that you haven't had a fire. If there has been water leaking around any electric fixture and there are lights flickering it is because there is a short.

You are so lucky that you have had they problem solved for you. It is not the way you wanted it solved, but your life will probably be much better when you are out of there.'

Remember that when something like this happens there is often a reason --- getting a different apartment that might make it easier on you and much safer is a blessing in disquise. I would just bite the bullet, pack up slowly and methodically and ask your brother or whoever to help you move when the time comes.

Moving is not fun at all. In fact it has to be some type of primitive torture to drive women crazy, but once it is over and you are settled in you may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Stay calm and smile. Irish

[ashewoman]

Crymeariver and Irish-- You guys are both right.  After I had time to sleep on it I woke up this morning and wrote a letter giving notice.  I gave myself until July 31st to get out after checking up on my lease options.  If I choose to move instead of waiting until I have to, then I get more control.  I think that was the thing that was worst about it was feeling like everyone else was in control of the situation.  So I will drop it off on Tuesday.  I also emailed the housing people for that list but they obviously won't get it until at least Tuesday either.  That's just over 60 days to find another place get approved and get out of here.  Like you said, a little every day should be plenty of time to get organized over two months.  GG

[eye2dry]

ashewoman.

I wish I could help you move.

It's been 7 1/2 years since I've moved but I LOVE(D) moving.

All the organizing, boxing, supervising the movers (usually hubby and family) and then the most  wonderful time........

the unpacking, sorting and putting things in their proper place.

I am crazy.


eye2dry

[irish]

eye2dry, Yeah, girl, you are crazy, but there is someone else just like you. It really gives me a rush to do all that. The problem is that I am beyond exhausted when it is over. Haven't moved for 22 years now and have been trying to throw stuff out.

We are going to be moving sooner than later because of our age and our health. Darn, it is so much harder to do this when we are older. The worst part of any of this is buying a house. We have had some very interesting experiences buying houses.

Two times people called the night before we were to move in and told us they didn't want to move out of their house. We told them we were so sorry, but as of midnight the house is legally ours. Hubby had flown to another state to finish business before we moved and he had to help the people move out of the house and then fly back the same day to help get us loaded on the van.

I know there are some horror stories out there. Also, one time a moving van with driver came to load. He had broken down and was late. Strike ONE!!! When he got here he didn't have any help. Hubby had to help him load most of it. The guy finally went down to a bar and hired a couple of guys to load up the really heavy stuff. Now that was a lousy moving experience cause it rained all that day also. Yuck!!!

Any more horror moving stories?

Ashewoman, glad that you got things figured out and are moving ahead. Yeah!!!! Irish

[WildThing]

OMG I hate moving, hate hate hate hate hate it.  Can understand why it is up there on that list of most stressful things ever.  Especially with having anxiey already ashewoman I can understand where you are coming from but  it does look like you don't have much choice so I guess it's best to just bite the bullet and get on with it if you can, like you say, a little a day and then on the day get as much help around as you can.