Blood and Bandaging

It was around September of last year when management announced repairs were "costing the company too much". That in the future, us residents would be charged for repairs to our units ……… holes in the wall, the garbage disposal breaks down, the toilet refuses to flush, a lightbulb goes out, our responsibility now.

Excuse me, but I thought repairs, unless the result of a resident’s damage, is the cost management pays for owning/managing; but oh well ……… things are different around here.

It was late Thursday when the dome light over the bathroom sink went out.

I put in a maintenance request and Assistant Maintenance Guy showed up the next day.

Holding a box in hand, that I thought was rather large for a lightbulb, he said, "You know this will cost you $15".

Yes, I knew management announced we'd be charged for lightbulbs. I did not know it would cost $15; but I’d already considered the cost of falling/hurting myself, had I tried to climb up on the counter, replace the lightbulb myself, so I told him to go ahead with the work.

"Take a check down to the office when you get a chance said he", as he walked into the bathroom to replace the bulb.

I was surprised to see it wasn’t a regular lightbulb, but some kind of circular lighting thingie that he attached to the electric cords inside the dome.

No way could I have made the replacement myself. I don’t think any of us could have done the work, or if it was even safe for us to try.

I'm now thinking some, when the dome light goes out, probably just do without rather than pay $15.

So, anyway, the plan was to walk a check down to the office on Monday, with a notation on the check that I was paying for the light thingie, which meant that if I ever moved, the light was coming with me because I paid for it. But then I thought to investigate if it is even legal for management to charge us for repairs that fall under normal wear/tear.

Google tells me, "A property management company generally cannot charge residents for routine repairs in California because landlords are legally responsible for maintaining a safe and habitable property. However, residents can be charged for damage they or their guests caused. Some management companies may charge a separate fee for coordinating repairs, which should be clearly outlined in the lease".

Nothing about being responsible for lightbulbs, garbage disposal, toilet is in the lease I signed back in 2012. Maybe they revised the lease, but I’ve never signed a revised lease.

The plan now is to wait and see.

If the office calls about payment, or sends a bill, I’ll say I’ve discovered it’s illegal to charge for normal wear/tear.

If they say it’s in the lease, I’ll walk my lease down and say "Show me where it says that".

It’s only $15, but since they don't spend money on events for us, there should be plenty of money in the coffers to shoulder the cost of necessary repairs to their own property.

In other news …… If you will recall, I wasn’t totally happy with the pouch I came up with to hold the newly acquired medical device, reworked the pouch into a 60’s/70’s style tribal medicine bag.

Pouch

Medicine Bag

The plan was to make two more — one from faux leather, one from denim.

Today, I finally got around to making those bags.

Wasn’t easy, as I was trying out different methods and designs as I went along; and there was a lot of Ouch, Ouch, Ouch as the pins somehow kept finding my fingers, treated me like a voodoo doll. At one point, there was even blood and bandaging.

Took all day, but I’m pleased with results.