Woman whose washer and dryer had broken for two YEARS uses ChatGPT to write a letter to her landlord

A woman successfully used ChatGPT to encourage her landlord to fix a washer and dryer that had been out of order for over two years.

The washing machine of a New York City apartment was fixed soon after 28-year-old Svetlana sent a legally charged chatbot letter to her landlord. 

Svetlana, who did not wish to reveal her last name, claimed the bot was ‘super-smart’ after quoting specific sections of New York rent law to back its case.

She said: ‘That’s the beauty of ChatGPT; the ability to collaborate, bounce ideas, put thoughts into a cohesive piece of writing.

‘It’s like a super-smart, objective, real-time sounding board.’

Svetlana, 28, successfully used ChatGPT to write her landlord a legally charged letter

 Artificial intelligence bots have also been used in the UK to assist with other legal battles

The New York resident first had qualms with her landlord after receiving a rent increase notice of 0.4 per cent, from $1,389 to $1,395 (£1116 to £1121).

The notice came just days after she had filed for a rent decrease, with her washer and dryer out of order for more than two years.

Having written numerous complaints about these machines before, Svetlana asked the AI chatbot to act like a housing lawyer and draft an email opposing the rise.

This attempt was successful, with the landlord then fixing these appliances that same month.

‘The rent increase alone was not my gripe,’ Svetlana said. 

‘It was the audacity to increase the rent, seemingly in retaliation after I filed a complaint and request for a rent decrease on the basis of decreased building-wide services.’

ChatGPT took into account sections of the New York rent stabilisation code and posited that the rent increase was retaliatory, as she had recently filed a request for a decrease. 

This was prompted by Svetlana’s request for it to write a ‘poignant, convincing, legalese-heavy long letter’ which she shared in a TikTok explainer post.

She continued: ‘My goal was to have the laundry machines repaired, and thankfully they were fixed that month after years of being out of order. 

‘It took a couple of attempts to get it perfect. 

Pictured: The prompt put forward by Svetlana to challenge her landlord over the rent rise

Result: This letter was produced by ChatGPT, forming the basis of what was sent across

‘I prompted ChatGPT to add more legalese. 

‘I never received an official response from my landlord, there was a sign posted in my building announcing that the laundry rooms were back in service.’ 

Svetlana’s case is not the first time that ChatGPT has been used successfully in a legal battle.

Just last month, 22-year-old Millie Houlton from York used the bot to revoke a £60 parking fine she received despite having a permit.

Motorist, Shaun Bosley from Brighton, also managed to get a fine reduced thanks to ChatGPT.

He had driven through Gatwick Airport’s drop-off area last November and received a £100 ‘final notice’ from NCP several months later, despite no previous correspondence, it was alleged.

Mr Bosley previously said: ‘In the end, I just typed, “write an appeal to a penalty charge notice for driving through Gatwick airport.

‘I have received final notice, but never received first notice of the penalty”, and straight away it came back with a great response.’ 

Millie Houlton, 22, from York, used the bot to write an email to the council, which then revoked the £60 fine for parking on a yellow line

Motorist, Shaun Bosley from Brighton, also managed to get a fine reduced thanks to ChatGPT (pictured: his chatbot letter in full) 

As an executive assistant, Svetlana already uses artificial intelligence for work, but is now considering its use to resolve other legal battles.

She said: ‘It’s definitely reinforced my faith in the, what feels to be, limitless future of AI.

‘We’re living in super fun times and it’s clear that we’re only just scratching the surface of what’s possible.

‘I’ve thought about issuing a scary legal letter to my neighbors who frequently chain smoke indoors.

‘Their smoke seeps into my apartment and it becomes overwhelming for me. Have decided against it for now.

‘But I use ChatGPT everyday, for work and for fun, and even just seeking objective opinions on literally anything.’