We just moved into a mutli-unit home. It is 3,000+ sq.ft. and all four units are occupied. My question is, the landlord had informed us that utilites are all combined and then divided among the unit and then again by the number of occupants in the unit. Basically, there is one electrical box for the whole house. So, we might not just be paying for OUR use of the electricity, but potentially for our neighbors as well.

Also, the landlord just finished installing two furnances for heating all four units. One furnace heats the downstairs units and the other heats the upstairs. There is ONE thermostat for the downstairs units and one for the upstairs. My issue with this is that the thermostat is controlled by the neighbor and we, again, have no control to regulate our usage.

What is the PROPER way for the electrical to be set up in this multiplex? And, are we being run around by a sleezy landlord trying to make an extra buck, instead of investing a buck?

That is about they way it is done, The best way is for each unit to have its own meter and you pay your own.

But there is no way at all to know who is using what, it is best guess at best. Personally I also would not have moved in to start with, with no control of my temp.

But again, I hope you knew about it before you moved in,