So tell me, legally and otherwise, what should be done?
I walked into my place today and the landlord was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher. In the past few days I used up a bit of his aluminum foil, so I decided to show good gesture by buying a brand spanking new aluminum foil pack for him. As he saw me stow it in the drawer, we struck up a little conversation. The backdrop was a kitchen window with the sun bright but not blinding as it was setting, and its cheerful rays seeping through, settling upon and illuminating his face:
"Hey Bob!" I exclaimed. [Note: landlord's real name has been changed for privacy purposes under the articleship of CCEA's fundamental media rights bill 203-33a, sponsored and directed by local union federation 22.]
"Hey man, how are ya?" Bob smiled back.
"Aweeeesssssooooomeeeee!"
"That's great. How was your day?"
"Great man, how about you?"
"Ahh, not too baaad. You know?"
Alright, enough with the damn small talk. We both lead busy lives, it was time to get to the point.
"Sooo, Bob, since I am moving out in 5 days, I was just wondering if you could give me the safety deposit back in cash?"
Bob's facial muscles suddenly tensed. The sun's rays were now gone; following in my imagination the path that they would have taken, were they there, I noticed that there was a dark cloud covering the sun. Loud suspenseful music started playing. I looked over at the TV and contemplated turning it off. Bob broke our eye contact, and while stowing the dishes away, he mumbled (though I still made it out), "Yeah well if that room is not rented out by then I am keeping it."
Still smiling, I suddenly blurted, "what?"
"Yeah. I should have rented the room out to someone who would have stayed for long and not for an [effing] month. You screwed me over man." [The bolded words are his verbatim.]
I knew, I just knew he'd do this. I had grown suspicious of his personality over the past couple of weeks and I knew something like this would not be out of the question. That sharaabi. So I perked up, wiped out kind- Hamza-smile and replaced it with pitbull-Hamza-face and said, "Well, I do see where you are coming from, and I apologize for leaving like this, but the rent was specifically month-to-month, and while I found this place wonderful, it is mad far from the campus. Here's what I will do, though. Since I gave you the notice on the 9th (of September), I am legally supposed to stay till the 9th of October and thus pay you your rent for those 9 days. Cool? But you have to give me my safety back. Do you think you can give it in cash?"
He thought for a moment, then replied with reluctance in his voice, "Whatever man, we'll see, but yeah can't do cash--maybe cheque."
"Alright man, cool."
With that I left him and went back to my room thinking I'm glad I am moving out of here in 5 days.
So now, let me ask you something. I am soft-hearted, and I do understand his issue: I kind of did screw him over in the sense that he could have gotten someone who would have stayed longer than I am, but he chose me. So, now, the rent for the 9 days works out to $150. The safety was $300. He legally owes me back $150. But, I'm thinking, if I should ask him for $150 back or just $100, and throw in the extra $50 for the little trouble that I did cause. This is not a legal question. This is a general social question. But yeah, legally what's your view too?
What would you do?
i think that you should ask for the 150 back unless you can easily afford to give him an extra 50.. but only if he is not a jackass.. otherwise.. get the 150 and smile and walk away lol
ReplyDeleteYou should base how much you plan to give him back, on his actions. Like, if he gives you back your 150$ and he's nice and wishing you well into the future and beyond, then cut him a cheque afterwards. If he's a jerk about the whole thing, then don't give him anything. Chances are though, he probably will be a jerk and you'll have 150$ in your pocket :) There's no excuse for being a jackass :P
ReplyDeletewell i would ask for the 150 cuz if u dont it seems like ur doing him some sort of charity....and from what i gather this guy seems sorta stuck up with the whole ego thing... so ask for 150 and if he refuses to give u the money back just be like look u can give me back 100 instead of 150 but thats as leniant as i get....so at the end the of the day u'll either have a) $150 in ur pocket b) $100 in ur pocket or c)zilch, zip, nada... if u up resorting to option 3 i say u cover all his booze with his tin foil and scadaddle.... but yeah end of the day hope for the best plan for the worst...
ReplyDeletetake the 150 and bounce. he knew exactly what he was getting into when he only rented the place out to you for a month, so this isn't your fault. 'legally' he has to give u back your deposit. i know you're a nice guy and everything but don't let him walk all over you. keep your stand and don't dish out 50 bucks just because you feel sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteI think you should make sure the cheque won't bounce.. Plus, try and see how he behaves in the next 5 days.. I say, he was the one with the alternatives, and no [owner] can assure that a tenant will stay.. so he's lucky that he even earned a little off of you...You paid him $300(safety deposit) which he should pay you back, in full amount and in cash. and the $500 rent you paid, as far as month to month arrangements go, most owner's like to scam their tenants esp. students, your rent is not actually valued at $500, its probably $350, since it's shared. Now the remaining $150 is is his[owner] security. So that if you were to leave,like you are now, he'd gain a sum of profit out of it which was the remainder cash($150)
ReplyDeleteconclusion: Don't pay, take ur Safety deposit and leave...
I say, ask for the $150, and see what happens. If he continues to make things difficult for you, THEN tell ask for $100 back. Just make sure that either way, you sound EXTRA apologetic, and be so nice to him, that he'll probably end up feeling bad and giving you the $150 back anyway. Most people given in when people are extra nice, and are not reacting rudely when they are. Good luck...and I'm sure it'll all work out :D
ReplyDeleteSince the rent was based on month to month base, you have the full right to ask for your $150 back. From what you have written, your personality is very similar to mine. I do hesitate even when its my right to ask for what I deserve. But my friend, it is good that your going thought this b/c this will build your character and prepare you for many more accessory issues like these that we will face in future. I would say ask for your $150
ReplyDeletehey (my) cute, fun loving, honest, kind and adorbale bro,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the posters above me, you should (politely) request for the $150 back specially since u technically signed a month to month contract.
I hoep you do get all your money back, and if you do then as I sign of good gesture (and good representation) you can perhaps leave him with a gift... not neccessarily monetary in value...
good luck bro,
lemme know if u need shabab to bring this landlord down ;)
hahahaha
ur bro,
sypro
Bro, I got stuck in a similar incident when I was with Fido. They overcharged me for a call that supposedly took 10 hours during the daytime, so yeah. I called their reps and they told me that I was responsible for it and blah blah blah...needless to say, I didn't shout at them, give them attitude. I just hung up the phone, paid the $200 and switched over to Bell.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I would kind of feel guilty if I were you, because of the feeling that you "screwed him over". That being said, from t he outside looking in, I can tell you you're definitely not in any wrong. You guys had an agreement and it looks like he's about to breach it - not you.
Honestly bro, if this doesn't get resolved in the ideal manner (as described by the people above in the amount of $150), just leave the guy and move on. The money the guy wrongfully took will haunt him one day and the money you spent avoiding conflict will make it's way back into your pocket bro. It's the way the world goes round bro.
That's just my advice. In any case, I hope it all goes well and that the prevailing outcome is the best one.
Good luck,
Mash
pssht - it seems our readers here are all the soft, cute and cuddly type of ppl who like to watch Barney and sing along to Nickelodean shows.
ReplyDeleteOk - i think your ONLY option is to go all medieval terrorist on his behind and show him just how pissed off a brown man can get. This requires a 4 step plan of action - which should be followed to the letter:
1) Buy lots of gasoline and/or lighter fluid
2) Pour said gasoline and/or lighter fluid on front lawn - preferably in the shape of a big smilie face (ala Fight Club) and if he's really a jerk - pour the remainder of the liquid onto the house.
3) "accidentally" flick a lit match onto the wet lawn
4) watch the house burn to the ground - and prepare a foolproof alibi (suugestions include: "i was at taraweeh")
I mean u *could* offer him 50 bucks more - but really - 50 bucks is like 10 bags of milk and 10 bags of milk is like - 500 cups of tea - and really - can anything be compared to a cup of good old south Indian tea? I thought not. Case closed.
AB took days to plan that comment.
ReplyDeleteoh wow - Maaz - we all know u aspire to be like me. It's hard living in my shadow i know - but fear not - with enough dua and facial reconstructive surgery you will one day be my protege.
ReplyDeletewell well well...finally the page loaded...now..first off...GOOGLE SUCKS!! hehe...now...to your legal advice part...firstly...this whole conversation is biased...b/c it only shows your side..and you're showing urself as being the good little angel YOU'RE NOT...sooo unless I can get the nice man's who your posing as the mean guy's side...i really can't tell you what action you should take...you did tell me that through email you people had decided on the deposit amount...so that is your written "agreement"...hence you can ask him for the money back...and he should pay you...if he doesn't...just think of it as charity at the end of ramadhan..and leave...its $150...your willing to give up $50...so wats another 2 $50s...right??? sooo suck it up you big baby...and go play with that dog in ur msn display...
ReplyDelete