News
01-04-2007, 01:13 PM
Street Noise, Timing a Move, Conserving Energy
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Edited questions from Apartment Life, Sara Gebhardt's online discussion about rental issues.
Q: I have a landlord who thinks everything outside the unit is not his problem. I can't sleep, because cars going past my window hit steel plates in the street, making massive noise. So do fire engines from the firehouse on the next block. I don't think this is suitable for use as an apartment, and that was before an upstairs toilet overflowed into the unit. What can I do? -- Washington
A: I don't know what you mean by "suitable for use as an apartment." Is it an actual apartment in a building where others also reside? If this is the case, then your landlord may have grounds to leave you to your own devices to deal with noises from the fire department and steel plates in the street. A landlord assumes you have checked out the area, its neighboring landmarks and street conditions before moving in. If it is some sort of illegal unit, then that is another story.
What time of the year is considered best for deals in terms of apartment renting? I am considering moving soon, but I can wait until I know I will be finding the best deals, etc. -- Philadelphia
There is not exactly a "best" time to look for apartments. If you are flexible in your moving dates, it's often best to stay flexible until you find a gem of a deal, which can pop up occasionally and often at the last minute. Still, a good time to find space to negotiate is when you do not have as much competition from other apartment hunters. This means if you avoid heavy turnover times, at the beginning of summer and around Labor Day, you may find yourself in a bargaining position with a landlord who needs a tenant.
What is the best way to gently remind a renter that although the rent includes utilities, the renter should not leave the lights on all day when away? -- Arlington
How about devising a going-away checklist for renters? It can include some information about environmental impact that may appeal to renters more than a plea to help you (presumably the landlord) save money on your bills. On a flier or poster, remind renters to save energy when they're not home.
I leave the lights on because I hate coming home to a pitch-black house. I doubt leaving the lights on all day is going to cost a landlord that much in energy costs. -- Renter Who Leaves the Lights On
I am not saying you have to care about your landlord's energy costs. However, I'm still a fan of doing what's right for the environment, which means not using resources that are limited. There is a solution. Instead of leaving the lights on all day, you can connect a lamp to an automatic timer so that you do not have to enter a dark house. And if your landlord is worried about energy costs, ask him to buy you the timer.
Sara Gebhardt's Apartment Life column appears biweekly in this section, and her Web chat appears monthly on http://www.washingtonpost.com. The next chat is scheduled for Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Edited questions from Apartment Life, Sara Gebhardt's online discussion about rental issues.
Q: I have a landlord who thinks everything outside the unit is not his problem. I can't sleep, because cars going past my window hit steel plates in the street, making massive noise. So do fire engines from the firehouse on the next block. I don't think this is suitable for use as an apartment, and that was before an upstairs toilet overflowed into the unit. What can I do? -- Washington
A: I don't know what you mean by "suitable for use as an apartment." Is it an actual apartment in a building where others also reside? If this is the case, then your landlord may have grounds to leave you to your own devices to deal with noises from the fire department and steel plates in the street. A landlord assumes you have checked out the area, its neighboring landmarks and street conditions before moving in. If it is some sort of illegal unit, then that is another story.
What time of the year is considered best for deals in terms of apartment renting? I am considering moving soon, but I can wait until I know I will be finding the best deals, etc. -- Philadelphia
There is not exactly a "best" time to look for apartments. If you are flexible in your moving dates, it's often best to stay flexible until you find a gem of a deal, which can pop up occasionally and often at the last minute. Still, a good time to find space to negotiate is when you do not have as much competition from other apartment hunters. This means if you avoid heavy turnover times, at the beginning of summer and around Labor Day, you may find yourself in a bargaining position with a landlord who needs a tenant.
What is the best way to gently remind a renter that although the rent includes utilities, the renter should not leave the lights on all day when away? -- Arlington
How about devising a going-away checklist for renters? It can include some information about environmental impact that may appeal to renters more than a plea to help you (presumably the landlord) save money on your bills. On a flier or poster, remind renters to save energy when they're not home.
I leave the lights on because I hate coming home to a pitch-black house. I doubt leaving the lights on all day is going to cost a landlord that much in energy costs. -- Renter Who Leaves the Lights On
I am not saying you have to care about your landlord's energy costs. However, I'm still a fan of doing what's right for the environment, which means not using resources that are limited. There is a solution. Instead of leaving the lights on all day, you can connect a lamp to an automatic timer so that you do not have to enter a dark house. And if your landlord is worried about energy costs, ask him to buy you the timer.
Sara Gebhardt's Apartment Life column appears biweekly in this section, and her Web chat appears monthly on http://www.washingtonpost.com. The next chat is scheduled for Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.