So, the decision has been made. I’ll be leaving Casa Rosenda when my lease expires in June. The landlord called today to advise that the rent would indeed be raised by 10%. His justification was that needed repairs would cost $2000, therefore higher rent was necessary. I told him I would be moving out then.
The stupidity of this situation is mind-boggling. They are going to spend two grand on repairs I never asked for. That’s fine, they should maintain their property as they deem necessary. They want to charge me an extra $100. a month to pay for the repairs and I’m not willing to do so, seeing as how I’m already overpaying for this house. When I move out I’ll be taking the appliances I purchased, including three aircon units upstairs, with me. So, they’ll need to buy replacements for those, along with a stove and refrigerator. That’s another chunk of cash they’ll be spending upfront. Had I renewed my lease in June, I’d be writing them a check for $11,000–a year’s rent. That was a sure thing for them, but they’ve chosen this path instead.
Landlord says the next tenant will pay $1000. a month (versus the $900. I currently pay). Good luck finding a sucker who will pay that for this old place. Hell, it sat vacant for YEARS before I foolishly came along and overpaid. There’s a pandemic and lockdown now, so folks are not able to move here from out of the country. It’s likely only a foreigner would be able to afford that kind of rent, and most people in a position to do so would be more likely to purchase their own place. The landlord’s family owns several other places here in the neighborhood that have been sitting vacant for the three years I’ve lived here. Good luck finding a renter to replace me. In the unlikely event it only takes a month, they won’t recoup what they lost when I moved out for six months. I expect it will be much longer than that before a replacement renter is found. Good luck with that. I’ll be up the street keeping an eye on how long this house is vacant and laughing every time I walk by.
Up the street? Yes, I’m moving into that downstairs apartment I mentioned previously. It’s not ideal, but it will do. And it is $300. a month cheaper than this house. I went and had a look yesterday. It’s only a couple of years old, has two large bedrooms with full baths, and another half bath off the entrance. The kitchen is larger and more modern than my current place, has actual cabinets, and a pantry! That’s probably what I like best about the apartment. I was surprised that it even has a nice view, from the balcony anyway. There’s also a maid’s quarters downstairs and some space for the dogs to hang out. The biggest drawback is having upstairs neighbors, but I’ll deal with it as necessary. Perhaps we will all just get along.
So, that’s my big news. Stand by to see what the future holds. In the meantime, we can take a look back into the past courtesy of Facebook memories.
And neither did the marriage. Jee Yeun left this on my Facebook page ten years ago:
I love you baby!!! So happy about you were always next me and take very good care of me!!!! My baby…Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm….
Oh, well. Everything changes, but life goes on.
You should never argue with a crazy mind
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime
Is that all you get for your money?And if that’s what you have in mind
Yeah, if that’s what you’re all about
Good luck, moving up, ’cause I’m movin’ outI’m movin’ out
Big decision, and yeah, your landlord is stupid. If you’ve been overpaying this entire time, then he’s probably already got the $2000 he needs to make his repairs. He can’t claim empty pockets after fleecing someone for years.
Have you thought about switching from renting to buying (through a Filipino acquaintance, I imagine)?
Good luck with the move, and with the new neighbors. I hope to see pics of the interior once you’ve settled in and gotten the new place the way you like it.
As for the Namsan pic of me… yeah, keep gloating. Revenge will be mine one day. I’ll pull a Biden and challenge you to a pushup contest.
Well, I was stupid perhaps overpaying to begin with, but at the time I really didn’t know any better. I’ll be damned if I’m going to compound that error with a 10% enhancement. I just hope I don’t have a big fight trying to get my 3 months security deposit returned.
There are workarounds to the land ownership prohibition. One guy here in the neighborhood bought his lot in a girlfriend’s name, then did a rock-solid 25-year lease on the land prior to building his house. It can be done, but I don’t want to be tied to a house if circumstances dictate I flee the country at some point in the future (i.e., when China invades).
As to the pushups, I’ll do a Biden and not comprehend what you are talking about…
It’s a good move…in the first place having to pay off the whole amount was like buying a house…seldom exist here in Phils.
You will get your security deposit if it is stated in the contract after deducting any unpaid bills or damages. You can sue them if they don’t give it back to you.
Again you be smarter now in this matter I hope. Goodluck to your moving out!
Thanks for your support, BW.
$300 more a month to spend on beer and boom boom seems like a good deal.
Just some random thoughts:
Overall, I think it is smart that you will be making the move. If you stay, it would just eat at you. But you will be paying $600 or $700 for your new place. So, you are paying 66% of your old rent for 50% of the space? Somewhat of an apples to oranges comparison I would imagine however.
Do you know the upstairs neighbors? As you are an “early to bed, early to rise” type of guy, any idea if they follow the same schedule or will they be keeping you up late with music, walking on the floor with heels, doing jumping jacks at midnight, etc.
Are the maids quarters on your floor and is there someone there now?
Any concerns that the current landlord will hassle you (or try to withhold part/all of your security deposit) when you take the A/C’s and appliances?
How long will you be locked into the new place? If you see something that really catches your eye in the next year, would you be able to make the move?
Anyway, good luck and I am sure that it will out just fine for you.
Brian, the apartment is smaller, but not THAT much smaller. It honestly has all the space I need. I hardly ever spend any time in most of my current house, other than my desk, the kitchen, and my bedroom. The maid’s quarters are not accessible from the apartment, there are in a basement under the apartment with its own door. I’ll let my helper decide if she wants the extra bedroom or maid’s room for her space. I’ll be putting MY stove and fridge down there, so it will be a nice setup I think.
The lease on the new place is year-to-year and I pay month-to-month. So, I won’t be totally stuck long-term.
Yeah, I will be surprised if I don’t have a hassle getting my deposit back. I’ll dig up my receipts for the appliances and aircon units, but I think when the landlord realizes how much it’s gonna cost to get this place ready to rent out to some other sucker, he’s going to fight to retain the cash. We shall see.
QP, there is more to life than beer and sex. Oh, wait a minute. Is there?
LIke the joke goes
“I gave up beer, women, and sex. It was the worst 15 minutes of my life”
HaHa!
$400 dollars difference. You had to do it. Now take that 400 and drop it monthly on a spread of cryptos. Cash out in one year’s time. Then live large: rent a pent and light cigars using low denomination bills in your ex-landlord’s face. On the matter of his fundamental stupidity, one is reminded of what Dorothy Parker said on the head guys always making bail but the mid level guys always paying: “If you want to know what God thinks of money, look at the people he gave it to.” Which somewhat contradicts my advice in the previous sentence? But doesn’t really if you think about it.
Good luck in the new place.
Thanks, Dan. It’s really not so much about the money as it is the principle. But yeah, I can find better things to do with the extra dollars every month!