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Posts: 2855

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Q: cheap landlord hijinks

My kitchen table was broken when I moved into my apartment.  My rental agreement states that the landlord will repair/replace anything damaged that is not done by me.  I messaged my landlord, to tell him that I needed a new table, and the response that I received was 'we will put soft glass over it.'  (It was a GLASS tabletop, and the back portion of it was in 6 VERY LARGE pieces.) I sent him a picture of the table.

 

2 hours later, he knocks on my door and walks in carrying...  A MAJONG TABLE!  An old, used one.  What a cheap-skate!  What are some instances of lazy/cheap trying to be passed of as fulfilling an obligation that you have come across?

8 years 15 weeks ago in  Housing - China

 
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Air-conditioning!

 

Lived in my current apartment 3 years now. The landlord is a local Cantonese guy who is okay. Leaves us in peace. He's a bloody cheapskate though. After the first year the air-conditioning unit broke. Sent guys to try and repair it and after two attempts with 2nd hand parts they gave up. He then replaced it with a 2nd hand unit....

 

One year later the replacement packs in. Again they try to repair it but fail. So he buys another 2nd hand unit. 

 

I'm waiting until it fails again this year. A new unit, with 6 year guarantee, is about 5000rmb. I reckon he's spent 2k in two years, maybe more, on pathetic attempts to keep old ones running. False economy. 

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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
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Air-conditioning!

 

Lived in my current apartment 3 years now. The landlord is a local Cantonese guy who is okay. Leaves us in peace. He's a bloody cheapskate though. After the first year the air-conditioning unit broke. Sent guys to try and repair it and after two attempts with 2nd hand parts they gave up. He then replaced it with a 2nd hand unit....

 

One year later the replacement packs in. Again they try to repair it but fail. So he buys another 2nd hand unit. 

 

I'm waiting until it fails again this year. A new unit, with 6 year guarantee, is about 5000rmb. I reckon he's spent 2k in two years, maybe more, on pathetic attempts to keep old ones running. False economy. 

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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
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When I asked about air-condition in school's rented apartment in Fujian, they just 'advised me': 'You can get yourself a small fan.....'surprise

I had 3 plastic chairs in the kitchen and foldable picnic table....

 

Salary was OK, however I couldn't convince them, foreigners won't live in such a place. I asked all apartment questions, after they handed me FEC.

 

'Do you know, what FEC stands for.....?'

'Do you think Foreign expert came to China and should/will sit on plastic stackables and eat off foldable table?'

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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
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At least your guy replaced the table.  My first apartment here, I was provided with a television that looked like it came from the early 60's-you know, the big box with a small screen.  After about two months it broke and he tried to make me pay for it.  I told him I refused to pay for a tv older than I was and he refused to get me a new one. 

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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
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I don't think mine are overly cheap (but not wealthy)... however, powerless and ignorant (in the real sense of the word... don't actually know how to fix the air-con or plumbing, so need an 'expert').

 

I like my landlord... I have a problem with water seeping through the walls (no doubt due to a cracked pipe). she's refusing to pay the maintenance bills until its fixed! I'd do that!!! Laughing out loud (and, not, it's not 'being cheap', because they've paid for other maintenance guys to come around for other jobs...).

 

I've been here 4 years. She's been to Canada a few times on extended scholarships... she gets it!

icnif77:

I can ...... clean the air-conangel.

I have big air con ( 1.75m x 0.6 x 0.4), which was all black, because it was never cleaned and a lot of dirt in Henan's air.

I put it apart last week. I dismantled more than 30 screws, clean it and assemble it back to the original form. It's very 'clean' feeling in my house, even Highland taste different ---> proper

8 years 12 weeks ago
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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
Posts: 724

Shifu

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My bathroom was leaking. Contacted my landlord many times and he offered me an unpaid job -- to mop the floor several times a day until 2 mops got broken and the leaking became flooding. Finally he got it fixed. Other than that? Fridge got broken in summer and bottled milk turned into yogert every day. Anyways, my landlord is not too bad. He solved most of the problems in his own way. Thinking of moving out next year. Smile

icnif77:

Yogurt is beyond 'very healthy'

8 years 15 weeks ago
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SpongeBob:

@icnif77

I sensed that you have the landlord potential. :D

8 years 15 weeks ago
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8 years 15 weeks ago
 
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Last landlord tried to rip me off for 800 RMB, got all my money back. This landlord, hopefully he doesn't try to do the same when I plan to move out next year.

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8 years 13 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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our front door is broken(it does not close)the landlord wont come and fix it and then they put up our rent by 500rmb,my wife got told we can find other people to rent the apartment,we dont care you can move out if you want.

 

 

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8 years 12 weeks ago
 
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My 'landlord' is blast. 

 

All repairs on my Campus housing are done prompt (an hour after the notice, repairman is fixing it).

All occupants have apartments cleaned daily or so (except me, per my request) with changing bed sheets daily or at least once a week, I think.

 

Only bad thing at my spot is Broadband, however after I spoke to some important guy on Campus last week, they will look into it.

I asked, if  FTs on housing could should have independent Broadband without sharing it with offices nearby.

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8 years 12 weeks ago
 
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77