OMG!!!

 Are people seriously, stupid or ignorant?

We got the response to a letter we wrote to the "landlord" (more like slumlord), and his advocate (who happens to be a realtor in the area.

Let me break down what was in this letter was us wanting to make a new deal or lease for us to pay $1000 down to let us move into one of the bigger apartments (we're in a small studio and want to move into the loft that's next door). Then, we'll pay $400 a month, given the fact that he (the landlord) relinquishes the utilities into our name. Meaning that we pay for the utility bills (gas, water, and electricity).

The ignorant response we received from the advocate is that first, we need $55,000 for the materials to separate the utilities for the apartment we're looking into. 

Um, last I know, that's the landlord's job, not us. Plus, shouldn't be complaining cause we are offering to start paying rent again, once we get into the place. After all, the renter's laws do state that a tenant can refuse to pay rent until the utilities are turned back on. And since utilities were included in the previous rent, means we had our rights as tenants to stop payments till further notice. Also, when the gas/water was first shut off, we had spoken with the town zoning director and he was the one who advised such actions. So, we were just following what we have learned.

What do you all think? Were we doing the right thing?

Plus, we are trying to keep the law out of such, thinking there might be a way to avoiding serious legal actions.