Landlords can be so frustrating

My landlady came down to us last night, to tell us that we can no longer use the dehumidifier in our hallway because she's afraid of it starting a fire.

WHAAAAAAT?!??!!!

We use it to get rid of the damp odor in our hallway that comes from our storage closet at the entrance to the apt. She never had her steps or the side of the house sealed, and it's CONSTANTLY damp in there, not to mention there are small leaks. We have to store everything in plastic bins and Lord knows what our Christmas tree will smell like come December.

How do I convince an old lady that a dehumidifier that works on a timer and only goes on once every 45 minutes for 10 minutes..WILL NOT START A FIRE?!

Arghgghg.

I know what you mean! Our landlords our obsessed with garbage. I mean they check our garbage to make sure we have recycled everything. How disgusting!!! They are so afraid of getting a fine that I finally said if you do... I'll pay it! They are ridiculous!

Also, today they covered my air conditioner... I guess it better not get hot again!

I hide from them - it's so sad. I can't wait to own my own place!

I wish i could tell you b/c my husband is the same way. He thinks everything that plugs in could start a fire. You should see the disputes we get in over christmas twinkle lights!

That said - when you own a house, the concept of having a fire is pretty devestating so you probably will not be able to convince this lady that you are right.

Stef, I totally understand the concept. I own a house, as part owner of my parents home. But, her refrigerator runs more, and off more power, and turns on and off, more than this dehumidifier!

My husband's family had a home fire in the middle of the night when he was a child. He lived in a 3-family brownstone and someone in the basement played with matches and a fire started and went up thru the closet in his parents room. THANK GOD his mother woke up to tell the Dad to come to bed and smelled the smoke. They literally only got our with their PJs and lost everything they owned, even most of the photos and other memory stuff.

Then the DAY his sister was moving into her new home, his mom placed a box on top of the stove and didn't know that the old owners had accidently left the burner on and THE WHOLE HOUSE WENT UP. I mean, they couldn't move in for 6 months because of the repairs that had to be made. Again, Thank God no one was hurt, and since they were not moved in yet alot of their personal stuff was not lost. But needless to say, his family is quite nervous about fires. His BIL will not allow the over the stove microwave to be used in fear that it will spark a fire, and the fireplace has NEVER been turned on once.

But Scott is not like that for some reason. He pretty much as the regular fire fears that we all have.

Anyway, you should call your local fire department and ask them about the safety of the unit. Maybe that will reassure your landlord.

What about convincing her to do something about the leaks so you wouldn't need the dehumidifier?