Is it legal for my Duplex landlord to make me split the water bill with other tenant?

Question

I know we don't use much water since our washer and dryer do not work. So I'm wanting to know is it legal for my new landlords management company to make me split the bill with the other tenant? It just doesn't seem fair to us.

Answer 1

What does your lease papers say??  Has it recently been sold to another company and what does their papers say??

I agree that splitting a water bill is probably not fair.  If you have a family that lives next door and they do a couple loads of laundry a day, or say you water your side of the lawn and they don't, it can really make a difference.  

In this case, I'd read into your papers and bring it to your landlords attention that you are not using a washer and therefore your water bill should be less than the other tenants.  I doubt that it'll be decreased but it don't hurt to ask. I'm guessing it says in your lease that the bill will be split amongst the 2 tenant's.  If you knew that going into it, then you are stuck paying half the bill.

Depending on how long you plan on staying there, you could request that a seperate water meter be installed but they are spendy. I'm betting they wouldn't do it anyway.

Answer 2

Vanessa! Who owns your washer and dryer? If it is the land lord and he is baseing the charge for your water bill on your useing it, then you can force him to fix the washer and dryer so that you can use them. In the long run this would be cheaper and more convient than takeing your clothes to the laundry mat all of the time. If you own the washer and dryer then have them fixed for the same reasons! Good Luck!

Jim B.

Answer 3

Have you explain to your landlord that you are not using much water? You have to explain to him first and show him your problem. If it is stated on your agreement before that the water bill shall be divide with your co-tenant then it is legal but if it's not then you have to question him.

Answer 4

"Legal" and "fair" are two different things, though ideally it should be the same.  Is this requirement spelled out in your lease?  Or is this something that changed with no warning?  If you agreed to it then it's legal.  If the terms of your lease were changed with new management, with no warning and no ability to leave (i.e., not accept the terms without a penalty other than the cost and bother of moving), then it may not be legal.

Answer 5

ask to have individual meters put on for each unit

Answer 6

It isn't fair but your both tenants and the only way you could change this is if you didn't use any water at all then you would have a case.

Answer 7

how else do you expect to pay water services ...i think its fair ...get you washing machine fixed ... so how much water you use ...the cost is split with other tenant ...not his fault u cant use washing machine .... what if you washed everyday and used hundreds of gallons of water and the other tenant washed once a week and used 1/3  of what u used .. he would still have to pay 50% of bill,,,,,,,,,,,,right......................

Answer 8

If it is stated in your existing lease, that the water is split and paid by the tenants, then yes, it is legal.  All of my tenants pay their own water, sewer and garbage.  I give them a copy of the bills the City sends me, and divide it by how many tenants live in the building, per unit, with a date due and payable to me.  When I receive the money, I pay the City.  If a tenant is late paying, or doesn't pay me at all, it is payable as rent, and carries the penalties as un-paid or late rent, so it gives me a right to sue in court to recover the money, and possibly the premises. Tenants that have washers in their apartments, pay a larger portion for the water and sewer.