Bananas.org - View Single Post - My landlord is making me get rid of my bananas!

LilRaverBoi · 04-05-2013, 09:59 PM

Thought I'd share this here and see what you all think about it.

I have been living in a duplex (lower level of a house) in Cedar Rapids, IA since July. Randomly, I get this letter from my landlord on Monday. Basically, it reads that my rent is going up $50/month due to increases in costs for various things. Whatever, that's not that big of a deal to me....I mean, I'm not 'glad,' but it could be worse. The letter continues, blah blah blah....if you're staying, please come sign a new rental agreement. Then I get to the end and marked with three asterisks, it says "***P.S. YOU WILL NEED TO GET RID OF YOUR PLANTS.***"

This is where my jaw drops and I kinda freaked out a little. WHAT? I have to get rid of my plants? Why? What problem could there possibly be with them? There are lids under all of them so they cannot leak water onto the floor, no bugs on them, humidity is not excessive, etc. I also should note that I am on good terms with my landlord. She's always been nice to me, I've always paid my rent on time and I've gone above and beyond to keep the place looking nice.

So I go over to her place to sign a new rental agreement and talk with her about this whole plant issue. So when I ask her about the plant topic, she goes off on how the heating bill (which she pays) has been so much higher than with the last renter and that she can't afford such a high bill. And that I'm keeping it so warm for the plants. That every time she's been over here, it feels like a hot house. So let me be clear.....my heat is set at 73-74 degrees. That's not really that warm. She even told me the last renter kept it at 72. I had it set lower and was approached by the guy upstairs (which I control the heat to as well) that his apartment was too cold and he wanted me to turn the heat up.

She goes on and on about how she always keeps her curtains closed during the winter to save on heat and that mine are always open. Reality: I keep ONE curtain open....one of the two living room windows where the plants are. ALL other curtains are closed. I should note that having these curtains open or closed makes zero difference since they are sheer white curtains that are thinner than paper (the only curtains the lease allows, and these are curtains she provided). Another thing I should mention is that I offered before winter even began to put up plastic in the windows to help save on energy costs but she told me not to 'because that looks tacky.'

Hey now, I'm sorry your heating bill has been higher than usual, but it's not really my fault. The house is old and has extremely inefficient windows (which she agrees). The heat wasn't really set all that high, but it's been a very cold and long winter (much worse than last year). Natural gas prices have also gone up. All things that contribute to the issue. The one item that does NOT contribute is the presence of my plants. However, as much as I tried to explain things to her in a polite manner, she had her mind made up that the plants are the issue and have to go. I also find it astonishing that if the bill was that high, why was this not brought to my attention before early spring?

The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous, but I really only had two choices: move out or sign a year lease with the stipulation noted in the least that I agree to get rid of my plants. Now I had a really hard time finding a place to rent that was affordable and would even allow me to rent from them since I have no rental history and my job situation isn't 'ideal.' (I even offered to pay 6 months rent upfront to one place on a 6 month lease and THEY SAID NO!). Therefore, I really have one option....to stay and have to get rid of my plants. SOOOOO stupid since they are NOT the issue and the heating bill will be JUST AS HIGH next winter without the plants.

Obviously I'm not going to stop growing bananas. I guess I'm just going to have to delve into the world of dormant overwintering and see how that works for me. I'm sure I'll lose some of the plants I currently have through that process since not all varieties do well in that situation. I'm probably going to pick up some plants that tolerate dormancy like orinoco, musella lasiocarpa, etc (open to suggestions).

I'm so mad about this entire situation. It bothers me constantly all day and I can't stop thinking about it. The situation is so very ridiculous and yet futile for me to fight since she won't be rational/logical about it. Just makes me want to scream (and maybe strangle her a little).

04-05-2013, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 120,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	My landlord is making me get rid of my bananas! Thought I'd share this here and see what you all think about it. I have been living in a duplex (lower level of a house) in Cedar Rapids, IA since July. Randomly, I get this letter from my landlord on Monday. Basically, it reads that my rent is going up $50/month due to increases in costs for various things. Whatever, that's not that big of a deal to me....I mean, I'm not 'glad,' but it could be worse. The letter continues, blah blah blah....if you're staying, please come sign a new rental agreement. Then I get to the end and marked with three asterisks, it says "*P.S. YOU WILL NEED TO GET RID OF YOUR PLANTS.*" This is where my jaw drops and I kinda freaked out a little. WHAT? I have to get rid of my plants? Why? What problem could there possibly be with them? There are lids under all of them so they cannot leak water onto the floor, no bugs on them, humidity is not excessive, etc. I also should note that I am on good terms with my landlord. She's always been nice to me, I've always paid my rent on time and I've gone above and beyond to keep the place looking nice. So I go over to her place to sign a new rental agreement and talk with her about this whole plant issue. So when I ask her about the plant topic, she goes off on how the heating bill (which she pays) has been so much higher than with the last renter and that she can't afford such a high bill. And that I'm keeping it so warm for the plants. That every time she's been over here, it feels like a hot house. So let me be clear.....my heat is set at 73-74 degrees. That's not really that warm. She even told me the last renter kept it at 72. I had it set lower and was approached by the guy upstairs (which I control the heat to as well) that his apartment was too cold and he wanted me to turn the heat up. She goes on and on about how she always keeps her curtains closed during the winter to save on heat and that mine are always open. Reality: I keep ONE curtain open....one of the two living room windows where the plants are. ALL other curtains are closed. I should note that having these curtains open or closed makes zero difference since they are sheer white curtains that are thinner than paper (the only curtains the lease allows, and these are curtains she provided). Another thing I should mention is that I offered before winter even began to put up plastic in the windows to help save on energy costs but she told me not to 'because that looks tacky.' Hey now, I'm sorry your heating bill has been higher than usual, but it's not really my fault. The house is old and has extremely inefficient windows (which she agrees). The heat wasn't really set all that high, but it's been a very cold and long winter (much worse than last year). Natural gas prices have also gone up. All things that contribute to the issue. The one item that does NOT contribute is the presence of my plants. However, as much as I tried to explain things to her in a polite manner, she had her mind made up that the plants are the issue and have to go. I also find it astonishing that if the bill was that high, why was this not brought to my attention before early spring? The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous, but I really only had two choices: move out or sign a year lease with the stipulation noted in the least that I agree to get rid of my plants. Now I had a really hard time finding a place to rent that was affordable and would even allow me to rent from them since I have no rental history and my job situation isn't 'ideal.' (I even offered to pay 6 months rent upfront to one place on a 6 month lease and THEY SAID NO!). Therefore, I really have one option....to stay and have to get rid of my plants. SOOOOO stupid since they are NOT the issue and the heating bill will be JUST AS HIGH next winter without the plants. Obviously I'm not going to stop growing bananas. I guess I'm just going to have to delve into the world of dormant overwintering and see how that works for me. I'm sure I'll lose some of the plants I currently have through that process since not all varieties do well in that situation. I'm probably going to pick up some plants that tolerate dormancy like orinoco, musella lasiocarpa, etc (open to suggestions). I'm so mad about this entire situation. It bothers me constantly all day and I can't stop thinking about it. The situation is so very ridiculous and yet futile for me to fight since she won't be rational/logical about it. Just makes me want to scream (and maybe strangle her a little). __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!