Can you come to an amicable agreement to get your 5 months back and move...?
My brother and I rented a small apartment to my med students in our parents home, we included utilities also. We were considerate and so were the tenants... please turn off AC and lights when you leave, nj is very hot humid in summer. We provided a timer to run AC an hour start time before they came home. When they left for a week, they would tell us so we could turn heat down.
it sounds like these people live close to your little apt. And are inexperienced in landlord tenant relationships.
good luck.