So back when there was that epic snow fall when school closed, my house-mates decided to be too lazy to go about shoveling our sidewalk. We kind of just formed our own path around it by walking either on the street or by eventually trampling the snow flat around it. I didn't feel like doing it myself because I already take out the trash and clean the kitchen + washrooms periodically (I do literally every chore for my douchebag housemates).

So on the Friday before reading week, we got a letter from the city taped to our door demanding we shovel our sidewalk... which was pretty dumb because it was 11 degrees this day and all the snow had already melted. My guess is someone complained way back and it took a few weeks for the city to respond to it.

One of my house-mates kinda shoveled out the remaining slush in case anyone came back for an inspection.

So during reading week, it snowed and again our sidewalk was covered with snow, but there was nobody home to do anything about it. We got another note on our door 'demanding' we shovel our snow, or there would be 'consequences'.

So the day after that, I guess the city got a truck (judging by tire marks on our lawn) and shoveled the snow for us. They then put another note on our door saying we had been warned with 24-hours to comply (this was not at all stated anywhere on the note before) and we were being fined $200.

This was all when nobody was home, and now my landlord is demanding we pay for it, since in our lease it said we had to shovel the snow.

So this is pretty retarded and obviously I don't want to pay for it.

Anyone know if I as a tenant am actually legally obligated to pay her? I feel it was her responsibility to look after the house if nobody was in it.

based on my understanding, it is a city or a city bylaw making it mandatory to shovel snow. the only catch was that you have agreed to shovel snow (tenants) but no one was home during reading week. kinda a grey area =S

I'm not 100% on this, but...

If it's in the lease that you have to take care of the snow and you signed it, you're responsible for taking care of it. She shouldn't have to pay because you guys violated a term on the lease. Especially since you were warned about it, it's not as though you were unaware that a fine was what you were facing if you didn't do it.

Obviously, it sucks that it happened over the reading week when you weren't home. But I don't see why it would be your landlord's responsibility when you've agreed that it's yours by signing the lease.

Yep, you guys gotta pay for it. You signed a lease that agreed to shovel the sidewalks and you were unable to do so. As much as it sucks, you just gotta fork over the cash to the landlord, it won't be nearly as bad if you guys split it amongst yourselves.

Also, your landlord doesn't necessarily know that you're gone for reading week (some people stay at school for reading week) so it would still be your responsibility. Sorry but I don't think there's a way around it.

Not only did you sign a lease saying it's your responsibility (and I'm assuming that it says you'll be fined for it), but it's also a bylaw.

And technically, it's supposed to be that not only does the household get a ticket, but the landlord does as well.

It sounds like nobody got a fine/ticket and you just have to pay the city for doing the job for you. So I'm guessing it could be worse.

But yes, it's your fault.

Should have e-mailed the landlord before everyone left informing her that no one would be here and ask her nicely to take care of it herself if it snowed. I know my landlord would have.

wow 200 bucks to shovel a sidewalk...

Originally Posted by alh24

I'm not 100% on this, but...

If it's in the lease that you have to take care of the snow and you signed it, you're responsible for taking care of it. She shouldn't have to pay because you guys violated a term on the lease. Especially since you were warned about it, it's not as though you were unaware that a fine was what you were facing if you didn't do it.

Obviously, it sucks that it happened over the reading week when you weren't home. But I don't see why it would be your landlord's responsibility when you've agreed that it's yours by signing the lease.

Originally Posted by REPLEKIA/.

Yep, you guys gotta pay for it. You signed a lease that agreed to shovel the sidewalks and you were unable to do so. As much as it sucks, you just gotta fork over the cash to the landlord, it won't be nearly as bad if you guys split it amongst yourselves.

Originally Posted by ingénieur.xo

Also, your landlord doesn't necessarily know that you're gone for reading week (some people stay at school for reading week) so it would still be your responsibility. Sorry but I don't think there's a way around it.

I see... so what would happen if I just suddenly became incredibly difficult to contact? They can't legally go after me, amirite?

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

I see... so what would happen if I just suddenly became incredibly difficult to contact? They can't legally go after me, amirite?

Just pay it dude. Split it with your room mates and it's not so bad.

Originally Posted by REPLEKIA/.

Just pay it dude. Split it with your room mates and it's not so bad.

It's already split between all of us; problem is - they have the same stance I do, but they're much more serious about not paying than I am.

:/

Aside from this, the ungodly pile of unsorted garbage my idiot house mates have neglected, the rich smell of marijuana constantly in the air and my landlord coming over for pretty much the first time ever since September.... I don't see the future looking too good :p

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

I see... so what would happen if I just suddenly became incredibly difficult to contact? They can't legally go after me, amirite?

Or she can just take you to court, win, and then have you responsible for your own court fees, her court fees, and the ticket. And maybe the interest that I'm assuming will be accumulated on it.

how many roommates + you are there? 200 dollars each? That sounds like too much. The fines for the individual household and the landlord are both not that much... like 300-500 each if I recall correctly.

Make sure she's not trying to make you pay hers as well. I don't think she can make you do that.

Originally Posted by lawleypop

how many roommates + you are there? 200 dollars each? That sounds like too much. The fines for the individual household and the landlord are both not that much... like 300-500 each if I recall correctly.

Make sure she's not trying to make you pay hers as well. I don't think she can make you do that.

lol no, it's 200 dollars split between 7 people. Everyone here is just super cheap, and I don't want to pay on the grounds that it only happened because my housemates are retarded.

Just don't pay it, move out next month, let shit hit the fan, post here about it. It's much more easier to share in the blame with 7 people than by yourself. Just go down with the ship.

Well you definitely need to convince your room mates to pay it. They only issue those fines when it has occurred repeatedly. You might have been away during reading week but you were there the rest of the year.

Also keep in mind that land lords all belong to the landlords association, and they talk. If you stiff one landlord everyone else will know about it, and it could make it very difficult to get a new place next year. My cousin owns an apartment building in another city, and he says unofficially they all compile a list of bad tenants (those who skip on rent, or cause problems) which they send to each other.