Whatare a tenant’s rights if no proof is given for utility bills?
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Whatare a tenant’s rights if no proof is given for utility bills?
My landlord holds all the utility accounts in her name for the apartments that she rents. We are expected to pay our share of the utility bill on the day that the rent is due, the first of each month. We never see the bills ourselves; she simply sends out an email on the last day of each month giving us the total amount we are due (based on equal division among tenants in the apartments, not on actual individual usage) and we are expected to pay the full amount the next day. Is this lawful?
Asked on March 6, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Washington
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Let me understad this: you rent an apartment and it has a separate meter for electric but the landlord has it in her name and will not let you put it in yours, even though your lease states you are to pay electric? I would tell your landlord that you will not pay the electric charges unless they ar verified that they are the bills for your apartment. And that you wish to have the bill placed in your name. It is really not unreasonable. See what she says. Good luck.
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