Am I an uncharitable bitch ?

[snugglecat]

I live in a small block of flats. The guy opposite us is a bit of a character 30-40 pretends to be homeless in the local town but obviously has a two bed flat to himself. The police are often knocking on the door and the corridor often has the smell of cannabis but he doesn't cause me trouble. We politely exchange a hello on the stairs but that's about it.

I've noticed recently he's had the flat door propped open on occasion but there is no lights on - I suspect he's run out of electric (but has money for weed)

Today I came home and he's ran an extention cord from one of the sockets in the hall through the letterbox into the flat.

Our communal areas are well looked after and regularly cleaned, but we do pay the service charges for this . Which includes the lightening and maintenance in the cost.

Effectively he's stealing electricity and we are all paying for it (16 I'm the block) .

I have been a single mother living on the breadline making ends meet so I've known hardship. I'm since married with two children . We do OK but we watch the pennies.

I feel annoyed by him doing this but in the same way I'm annoyed with myself for wanting to report him - do I really want someone sitting in the dark with no electric , even if it is self inflicted ?!

So wwyd? Aibu to report him to the housing association ? Or should I be more charitable and turn a blind eye ?

Interested in your views !

[CondensedMilkSarnies]

I would report him , (I have a massive problem with anyone that smokes cannabis.)

[DailyFail1]

I personally would report him but I get a bit vindictive seeing people milk the system, as I had to slog through the system the hard way.

[OneWithTheForce]

I would be worried about the safety aspect of him powering his whole flat through one extension lead connected to a socket outside his flat!! He doesn't sound like he makes the most sensible decisions so I doubt he would be doing this safely.

[ilovesooty]

The only consideration for me really would be whether he is overloading the circuit and putting residents at risk.

[girlelephant]

I would report. Are the cables not potentially dangerous & a trip hazard?

Perhaps complaining will mean he gets support re cannabis/budgeting etc

[Bluntness100]

I would give it a few days first. Sometimes people fall on hard times even if it's their own fault,

[Birdsgottafly]

I'd give him time to get himself sorted out. It could be that he's had his benefits sanctioned and can't get it sorted out over the holidays.

As for affording Weed, it can be cheaper than eating/drinking and there's ways to 'pay' for it, without money.

He could be on a downwards spiral, which is why I'd consider reporting it, for him to get support.

[Birdsgottafly]

Complaining will get him evicted.

[WorraLiberty]

Surely you pay the same service charge though as a flat rate?

Also, you don't know if he has money for weed or if he's getting it on tick until he gets his money.

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

I'd report it - he's likely overloading that socket if nothing else.

[SaucyJack]

Maybe give it a week, and have a word with him then if he's still doing it?

BTW- noone's going to come out and offer "support" to a competent adult who's spent their money on weed rather than the leccy meter.

[Palomb]

I'd leave it a few days, especially as it's a bank holiday but after that I'd have a word to see what his plan was but if it continued long term I'd report his ass. Definitely. Sockets are not supposed to run multiple things via an extention cable. He could be putting you at risk of fire in the communal areas which is Not good.. obv.

[CatoSoup]

Give him a few days and then report.
I have no problems with people smoking cannabis (I do it myself for relief of IBD symptoms) but I do have issues with freeloading 😠

[WorraLiberty]

How is he likely overloading the socket?

He's just running an extension cord from a (presumably) empty socket.

And I agree with Saucy. Who's going to come and offer to support him, because he's using the socket in the corridor?

He'll just get a letter telling him to stop.

[Dawndonnaagain]

BTW- noone's going to come out and offer "support" to a competent adult who's spent their money on weed rather than the leccy meter. How do you know he's a competent adult? There may be myriad reasons he's smoking weed and he may well need help.

[OneWithTheForce]

How is he likely overloading the socket?

Well I'm imagining the extension lead doesn't reach to all of his flat so he may have plugged more extension leads into that to reach everywhere and then the appliances on top of that.

[WorraLiberty]

It doesn't matter whether he's competent or not.

If the OP reports him to the LL for using the leccy socket in the hall, he's going to get a letter telling him not to.

He's not going to get a visit from some sort of supportive authority (and that's if he even wants support).

He's probably just skint until his next pay day.

[Palomb]

The appliance or the appliances . There could be a cooker, wasing machine, tv, computer and lamps all plugged in to one single socket via an extention.

The fire brigade will tell you that this is not a good idea.

[EweAreHere]

I'd report it. He could well overload it and start a fire...

[WorraLiberty]

My extension socket is well over 50 metres long, OneWithTheForce.

I suppose it depends on how near the socket is to his flat.

[Welshmaenad]

I'd go over and offer to put £10 on his electric card till his money comes through, but I'm a complete softy

[JustSpeakSense]

I'd definitely report it.

Also, if he can afford to buy a 50m extension cord....I think he's taking the piss.

Just report him.

[OneWithTheForce]

Yes but how long are the leads on all your appliances in all the different rooms? The won't all reach at the same time so unless he is unplugging ever time he needs to use something different then it's likely he is adding another few extension leads.

[Dagnabit]

I work for a housing association and he won't get evicted just for that. I would definitely report; as a matter of safety more than anything.

[AgreeableH]

OMG. As someone who purchased in a LA block; I used to pay (an arm and a leg!) out of my service charge for the shared lights etc so you ARE effectively paying his bill. Report to your LA board and tale a photo to prove it. And snip the cable so the cheeky fucker can't do it again! Grrrrrr