Whew. It's a good thing I was so busy with the move, otherwise I would've been writhing on the floor. :p Sure, I had my iphone, but it's not an entirely adequate substitute.
Anyway! The past week I've been up to one thing and one thing only - moving. We had movers last Saturday, but it's taking up until today to prepare the old apartment for the walkthrough and make the new apartment livable. Over the past two years, we've collected tons and tons of stuff!
The walkthrough was as infuriating as I thought it would be - the landlord wants to charge us for repainting (per an entirely illegal mandatory painting provision in the lease), and for "getting the apartment ready for the new tenants" (which, I might add, he hasn't found yet, and I hope he never finds because no one deserves to have that man as a landlord). Our money is supposed to be used for damage we caused, not to cover the expenses that he as a landlord is supposed to incur. I'm looking forward to battling it out with him. Since I have more time now, I better put it to good use!
Why do I have more time? I was FIRED from my job one week ago. Why was I fired? For taking a day off to move! That and apparently my boss was upset that, earlier in the week, after coming in on my day off as a favor to him, I left without asking his permission. I had been there 4 hours, we never agreed how long I would stay, and I had to leave. And no I wasn't going to waltz into a deposition and tell him I had to go! He fired his assistant a week earlier... after she thought she was having a stroke and had to leave early. It's pretty clear he doesn't care about the people who work for him... he just cares that they're in the office, to do his shit for him when he snaps his fingers. Definitely not a place I'd like to continue working after graduation! I'm glad I found out now...
A few more paychecks would have been nice though. :p I have my "back-up job" starting next month (the same job I worked all last year), so I'm not panicking.
I think the apartment (and my life) will be completely back in order a week from now. I can't wait to get back to a regular exercise routine, start cooking again (we've been eating out every day), and refocus on my goals.
1 day ago
6 comments:
High five on getting the internet back.
I just got mine back too! And I've been catching up.
As for your boss firing you? Good riddance to a rubbish work place! :P
Yeah, in this case I think getting fired was a blessing.
Charging for repainting is usually illegal unless you've lived there < 2 years. If you google "[yourstate] landlord tenant law" you should be able to get all the information you need.
Given how desperate people are for a job, any job, it's too bad your boss is unlikely to learn any lesson from his behavior. But I'm glad to hear you have a back up job.
@FB: Totally, good riddance! :)
@paranoidasteroid: In the notice to vacate letter I sent the landlord last month I also quoted the relevant CA Civil Code provision which states his painting provision is illegal. But frankly, I don't think he cares. He's going to charge us and I'm going to have to take him to small claims. He's just that kind of guy. I think he's pulled this crap many times before and has gotten away with it... But he'll find he won't get away with it with me.
@Grace: I agree. And I'm happy about the back-up job as well :)
You should only be liable for 1/2 the cost of painting if you lived there for 2 years, after 4 years they can't charge you anything. But yes he can charge you for part of it unfortunately. I've had to take a former landlord to court so if you have any questions, send me an email. 4 years is the magic cutoff date to avoid most of those charges, if you stay in an apt less than that they will get you for some of those seemingly routine expenses.
@Miss M: My understanding is that, per California Civil Code §1950.5(m), the painting provision he has in the lease is illegal (it states that we must pay for painting if we've lived there less than 3 years)... The landlord is not allowed to impose a mandatory fee. Further, we aren't liable for normal wear and tear to the walls (i.e. lightly dirty walls).
Do you know the code section that talks about 4 yrs being a magic cut-off date? Or is this some arbitrary number a judge pulled out of his ass?
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