(edit title) Landlord trying to exploit me Failing to live up to contract Options

[Clando]

Hey guys,

So the woman I'm living with and renting from has become increasingly controlling up to this point where I can no longer live my life.

I have a signed contract from her granting me access to and use of the kitchen. Electricity is also included in my rent (and on the contract, which is 4,000kr/month). She was complaining recently that I use the kitchen too often (particularly the oven) which is ridiculous as I should be allowed to cook as often as I want and also because I use the oven very rarely, maybe once or twice a week.

So I've just come home to realise that she has removed the fuses for the kitchen, thus destroying my ability to cook, which is guaranteed in the contract.

Do I have any legal recourse here? Like calling the police etc? On the contract she has clearly stated I can use the kitchen. Now she is denying me that right and will likely not refund me my money if I ask.

What can I do?

Thanks.

[Solith]

These guys might be able to help.

She sounds like a nutcase. Find somewhere new, asap...

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

I'm a landlord...we are not that bad...but I think she wants you out! For what reason, I don't know?

Solith is right...sorry.

[Puffin]

She sounds very strange - unless you were cooking at anti-social times of the day such as late night and keeping her awake or cooking for hours each day meaning that it's hard for her to use her own kitchen

I assume that you are living as a lodger in her home which is always tough to work out as it requires give and take on both sides when the space must be shared - have you tried to sit down calmly and work out some times to use the kitchen?

Otherwise perhaps you are going to need to move

[byke]

One thing that really annoys the natives is "Smelly food".
Aka food with a strong odor that isn't considered swedish (aka curry's etc)

So a word to the wise ... if its not pasta or anything blandly similar, it may be a good idea to remember that such other foods could be helping aggravate the situation.

[Puffin]

I have to admit that I have done the same - removed fuses - to some extremely anti-social neighbours when I lived in an apartment. They were not bad people but just insensitive as to how their actions affected others

They used to come home late after a night out and start slamming around in the kitchen and turning their music on loud so that the walls vibrated - so one morning at 4 am I removed the fuses just to get some sleep

There you have it I am a bad person ...

PS OP - some apartments have rules about when you can make noise so if you are cooking between 9pm and 7am then it may not be allowed. My DH had an apartment in Växjö where it stated in the lease that toilets could not be flushed between 10pm and 6am - which was a lot of fun with winter vomiting sickness!!!!

Also OP - do you clean the oven and kitchen after use? - if not týou may be upsetting your roomate

[Boar]

Once I was also in same as your situation. The girl was very miser tenant. She wanted to save electricity money. She charged the whole rent from 2 students and she just paid electricity. After 2 months I checked the electricity bill. It was 500 sek for 3 months. I believe she just paid the electricity. The other student also vacated when I vacated.

Now, I am also a tenant. I also tried to rent a room to a couple. They smoked in the apartment inspite of my warning them before. So, I removed them after 3 days without charging anything. I was a kind person. So, I let them stay for 3 days. Others would have sent them straight away.

Do you have habits like smoking and making the kitchen dirty by leaving uncleaned dishes? Or staying in the kitchen for a long time reading a book. People want privacy. They don't care how much you pay. They want you to stay in your room or go out during the day.

I decided I will not sublet to anyone. I pay the whole rent myself. I do not wish to have any trouble from anyone and wish not to take someones responsibility.

[Puffin]

Yes sadly some landlords do see lodgers as a cash cow

[carterhayes]

I would confront her asap, and just ask whats going on. If she wants you out - make her tell why and when. Suggest that unless she settles this in a good way, you will rent electrical equippement to the room you live in (like a radiator) and keep it on 24/7. How can you do anything unless the situation is explained to you?

[Boar]

Yes sadly some landlords do see lodgers as a cash cow

Whenever I was using the oven she was trying to watch what I was going to cook and how long and how often. I hardly used the oven and was frightened to use it. I asked if she could reduce the rent a bit. She said it is possible if you do not use the kitchen completely. There is no human being to stay in some place and avoid using the kitchen completely. One has to eat and survive. One cannot afford eating out every part of the meal and it is not convenient no matter how much one earns or has money to do that. When she was away during the weekends then I used to use the oven happily. As, she was away. I was lucky as she was away every weekend to meet her boyfriend.

It's hard to be a roommate for either side. There is no proper balance. One can find a good roommate. But, it's not that easy.

[Boar]

It depends on many issues. What kind of person you are and what kind of person she is.
Do you bring any of your friend and let them stay overnight. You have the right to bring someone. But, your owner will not like it as she might become jealous as more water is consumed and you keep talking during the night. Number of factors are involved.
Did you sign a contract and for how long?

[Clando]

I don't cook after 9pm. At first I would cook a little after 9 (if I had been late in work for example) but she asked me to stop within the first month and I obliged.

As for the foreign food stuff...I'm Irish and she is Indian. So I doubt she finds my cooking offensive as it is quite bland in comparison to what she cooks.

The rings on the oven are working now, so I'll be able to make pasta/potatoes/rice etc.

I'm moving at the end of the month, so I'm just going to bite my lip and deal with it till then.

Can wait to get out of here!!

[AW1]

Your last meal should be a tin of surströmming...

[Puffin]

Open it and leave it under the bed or behind the radiator

[byke]

Would be a shame if any of it fell on the floor and got stuck below a floorboard just before you leave.