I live in Maine and need help with a residential lease issue.

4 months ago my girlfriend and I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment with another couple, we had lived together for 2 years in another apartment. The lease requires that we pay half of the electric bill with the account being in our name, our landlord is supposed to pay th other half. However, the upstairs aprtment with a different tenant is also on our bill, with electric heat!! Our unit has forced hot water heat. The bill has suddenly climbed to over six hundered dollars a month and the landlord says it is our fault and is refusing to pay his half, he won't even return our calls.

Also we cannot get hime to give us a signed receipt for rental payments. His girlfriend gave us a bunch of bank deposit slips with her account # and told us to just deposit the rent each month.

So my question is, can we break the lease?? We are a young couple trying to save for a home, we cannot afford such an outrageous bill every month. What options do we have??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Also each state differs but most states have Landlord Tenant affairs departments.
This is for your situation. The service is ussally free to the tenant. Check government services. Also start writing down and documenting your coversation. Send follow up letters.
If they won't give you a receipt copy your check or Money order and deposit slip or keep your canceled checks. Document everything as best you can. Never pay in cash
Example: After you have a discussion write down what was said and send it to them my mail return receipt requested.
Dear Landlord O
N the first I deposited my rent check for the month of January.
As we discussed I will pay half of the utillites and the other half still
Remains unpaid. Please respond on how you will resolve this matter
In the next 3 days
I await your reply
Paul

Look in the yellow pages for a real estate attorney You ussally can go speak to one for free at first. The most it will cost will be $100.00 .

Also each state differs but most states have Landlord Tenant affairs departments.
This is for your situation. The service is ussally free to the tenant. Check government services. Also start writing down and documenting your coversation. Send follow up letters.
If they won't give you a receipt copy your check or Money order and deposit slip or keep your canceled checks. Document everything as best you can. Never pay in cash
Example: After you have a discussion write down what was said and send it to them my mail return receipt requested.
Dear Landlord
On the first I deposited my rent check for the month of January.
As we discussed I will pay half of the utillites and the other half still
Remains unpaid. Please respond on how you will resolve this matter
In the next 3 days
I await your reply
Paul
Good luck
PS
Look in the yellow pages for a real estate attorney You ussally can go speak to one for free at first. The most it will cost will be $100.00

Contact in Maine HelpMELaw: Home Page (http://www.helpmelaw.org)

Free law service in Maine Pine Tree Legal Assistance (http://www.ptla.org/index.html)