Location: nyc
Going to keep it short as I can, but I am in major need of advice (in what feels like an unadvisable situation). Context is this landlord is very irrational/temperamental/emotionally disregulated. We have had many issues with her before, and have recorded her blow-ups when possible.
She has recently fixated on our water use. She is convinced our roommate (who she refuses to speak to) is running the water for hours at a time. There is no proof, but she has threatened to give her any additional portions of the water bill. Today she called me and told me we need to replace her as a roommate.
THE ACCUTE ISSUE: I just got home from work and showered. I close at a restaurant, so it was about 1:30am. Right after I got out of the shower, within seconds, our full apartment's water was turned off. I called her (recorded) and she immediately told me the time of my shower, threatened that if the other girl continues to take hour long showers (again, no proof), we will be paying the bill. I reminded her that while I understand she is upset, she cannot turn our water off. I feel like I am gentle parenting this woman, out of fear of her explosive temper and ability to make our lives awful. My dignity evaporates in every conversation with her.
The roommates are going to talk tomorrow, and likely we are going to need to break this lease. I just don't know how to make sure we have as much legal heavy weight backing us up in doing so, since she is going to make the whole process as awful as humanly possible.