Why Couldn't I Have Been Born Into a Wealthy Existence?

[wlotus]

The management of our apartment building mailed us notices detailing the electrical work they intend to do to the building as soon as the proposal is approved by the city. They finally plan to upgrade the wiring and install circuit breakers, which is GREAT and long overdue.

But...

This will most likely mean an increase in rent to cover the cost of the work (just like when they installed a new boiler a couple of years ago).

AND...

Instead of electricity being included in our rent as it is now, they will begin charging each apartment individually for its electricity usage.

Now I am stressed about the effect this will have on my already tight budget. That could spell out the end of being able to put money into savings each month, not to mention losing the modest $20 a week I have for spending money.

I dislike feeling stress over money. I like being calm and knowing I have enough. My brain comes up with the worst case scenario, however.

What if I considered a more positive set of possibilities?

What if I continue to have enough, even though I don't know how that will be possible? (I don't have to know how, just like I don't know for sure the worst case will happen.)

What if we are able to make everything be alright?

---

Wednesday, 18 August 2010, 4:17 PM

Now that I am calmer, I have re-read the documentation. They are not proposing an increase in the rent (yet); they are simply detailing the work to be done and asking for our comments. I wrote that I approve and asked, "Now that electricity will not be included in our rent, by how much will our rent be reduced?"

Ha ha, I know. But at least I am putting it out there, instead of hoping they will think about that on their own.

Comments

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

According to this,
http://www.sbls.org/index.php?id=85
landlords might be told they cannot increase the rent even after their capital improvement project is improved.

Hopefully the monthly increase will not be much, if anything at all. :)

(edit for clarification)

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it, the rent should at least stay the same (if not go down), because electricity will no longer be included in the rent.

I don't know that they intend to raise the rent; I was speculating on the worst case scenario, as I tend to do in situations like this.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you are right. :-)

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

No circuit breakers? Just how old IS this building?
Now, apparently this house was built in the laste 50s, and not all the wiring (eeek!) is grounded. Any time we have any electrical work done, more grounding happens. We did not read enough of the fine print, obviously.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

We still have fuses! I believe the building was built in the 40s or 50s and has all the original wiring. We also don't have any sprinkler system.

[rockbirthedme.livejournal.com]

Do you know hospitals use fuses? In a power surge, a fuse will always blow, but a breaker may fuse across the gap instead of opening, risking equipment and possibly causing a fire. Breaker boxes are safer in private houses not because breakers are inherently safer, but because breakers are idiot-proof. If a circuit blows repeatedly, a breaker forces you to get an electrician to rewire it, but too many people are tempted to solve the problem in a fuse box by replacing a 15 amp fuse with a 20 amp, which is dangerous.

*grin* Houses built in the 40's and 50's are kid stuff. Walk up to an electrician who works in old houses and say, "Knob and tube." Be prepared to catch them -- they'll likely faint.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

Your fluency in Greek is quite impressive! I tip my hat to you. :-)

[rockbirthedme.livejournal.com]

*curtsies a little* It's amazing what you learn when you've lived in old houses all your life and spend a lot of time talking to building inspectors.

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

Hmm. These days in CA, at least, any work done to a business or *residential* roof must include sprinklers, if they haven't already been installed.

One of the issues that surfaces a lot, aside from wiring, is the need to preserve (certified) Historical Buildings and the need of the mobility impaired--think theatres in SF & in Oakland. NO lifts for the elderly and other mobility-challenged people to get to higher floors, and in some cases, the nearest *restroom*!

When we went to see Spamalot, we were originally on an upper floor. When we went to collect our tickets at WillCall, we found there was no elevator there. We were reassigned seats in the back on the ground floor--we saw just fine. There was a pair of restrooms right by, but if you didn't LOOK to be physically handicapped, you weren't allowed there. So if you had some problem that wasn't visible, like no depth perception on stairs, you got stuck with the stairs to the other nearest restroom...

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I expect that at some point they will install a sprinkler system...and raise the rent to cover the cost of the work. It's needed, though. I doubt anything about this building is fireproof.

[greenminions.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the management can write off the improvements as part of energy efficiency or something. If so, then raising your rent is even more distasteful.

Is this a co-op building?

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure they are going to raise the rent; I am just speculating on the worst case (as usually, huh). If anything, the rent ought to go down a bit, as electricity will no longer be included in the rent.

The building is rent-controlled.

[greenminions.livejournal.com]

Yes, that negative thinking strikes again. I think the tenants could make a good case though that the rent should go down if the electricity bill is being handed over to you in the event that they try to raise it. So maybe the net loss will be low or nothing at all to you.

Keep us posted!

[openscarf.livejournal.com]

"What if I considered a more positive set of possibilities?

What if I continue to have enough, even though I don't know how that will be possible? (I don't have to know how, just like I don't know for sure the worst case will happen.)

What if we are able to make everything be alright?"

Great thought progression. I'd go even further and suggest that now that you know you may be paying more either in rent or electric, and that you will spend less on groceries, or eating out or whatever, NOW, just stop thinking about it. All is well. It's just life. You have what is important.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

You are right. Continuing to think about it wouldn't help. Thank you.

[labellerose.livejournal.com]

Just keep swimming. You'll find a way. You always have.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

*splash splash* :-D

[untied.livejournal.com]

it's also possible that you will use less electricity than you are currently paying a lump sum for. on top of which you can apply for discounts directly from the utility company if you qualify. let us know what happens!

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought about that! I'll add that to my arsenal of positive what ifs. Thank you.