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glendalough · Dec 12, 2007, 10:41 AM

I live in a small poolhouse that my landlord's family turned into a studio. Approximate size is 25 feet by 25 feet. I have been living there since early 2001. To this day, my landlord has never given me a copy of her electric/gas bill and she has never given me a copy of the water bill. She charges me $25.00 a month for water and when I first moved in it was only $10.00 a month. So, I know she is overcharging there too. What she does is write on a small envelope, what my share of the electric and water is, she puts the month and year on there and claims that is my bill. I live right next door to her, my roof is connected to her roof, and there is only 1 meter which is on her house. When she gets her electric/gas bill she charges me 1/3 of the bill. She says she has always done that to everyone who has rented the apartment. In June 2003, she told me that my share of the electric/gas was $125.00, which was impossible because for that month, I was only home a few days. Then the following year in July, she charged me another ridiculous amount and again for that month I was only home a few days. I approached her with this, and she said that she would not give me a copy of the bill because it is "my bill". Then she goes into this whole speech about how she thought we were friends and that she feels bad that I don't apparently trust her. We are not friends. I have called the electric company about this. I told them my situation and they said that since I am not on the account they couldn't give me the exact amount. What they did say is that the amount that she is claiming her bill to be is nowhere near what it actually is. Based on the small size of my apartment, I should only be charged a very small amount, not what she is charging me. I only use 1 lamp, do not have air conditioning, and don't use the television or computer much and don’t use any other electronics. I have asked her to put in a meter for my apartment and she said that if we did that she would have to raise the rent. Why would she have to raise the rent? Because she would be losing all the money she is overcharging. She is also stealing from my security deposit. She said that for every year I am there, she will take out $100.00 for wear and tear and when I move out, she will give me the balance of that. I talked to the Housing Authoirty about all of this and they told me that to just play dumb, and when I move out, take her to small claims court. Has anyone else had this type of experience with their landlord?

charlotte234s · Dec 12, 2007, 10:48 AM

Tell her that you feel she is overcharging for the utilities, and that you will get your own meter and pay for your own utitilities if she doesn't correct the problem. If she won't cooperate or tells you you can't do that, tell her that you will be seeking a new place to live, tht's awful, she's using you to pay her bills. She CANNOT charge you wearand tear on your security deposit unless you trash the house.

You need to find a new place to live and sue her for the deposit and back utitlity payments ASAP.

froggy7 · Dec 12, 2007, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by charlotte234s

Tell her that you feel she is overcharging for the utilities, and that you will get your own meter and pay for your own utitilities if she doesn't correct the problem.

I don't think a tenant can do this. Putting in a new meter has to be done by the utility company, and thus the request would probably have to come from the account holder for the property.

Now, the agreement that the renter apparently entered into is that he would pay a third of the total costs of the utilities. Whether that is a good deal or not, that is what the arrangement is. It's sort of like adding a roomie to a rental... nothing says that if you add one person, you can only charge them half the rent. You can charge what you want, and as long as both sides agree to it, it's a valid contract.

Personally, if the OP is so unhappy with the situation, then I would suggest moving to a new place.

ScottGem · Dec 12, 2007, 07:16 PM

Sorry Charlotte, only the property owner can request a separate meter. But the rest of your advice is OK.

To glen
The thing is you have to forget treating what you are paying as utilities as separate. Obviously your landlord is trying to supplement your rent by overcharging on the utilities. What you need to do is look at the total value of the rental. If you think you can do better, then wait for when the lease is up and move. If you think the total package is competitive then stay and drop the utilities issue.

As for the deposit, check the laws for your area. What a deposit can be used for is generally spelled out in the landlord/tenant laws. When you are ready to move out, make sure you do a full walkthrough with the landlord and take pictures. Then hand her a copy of the state law on security deposits. Explain to her that, since there are no necessary repairs, you will expect the full return of your deposit otherwise you will take her to court.

Fr_Chuck · Dec 12, 2007, 08:52 PM

I will not say what you want to hear, it does not matter what percentage your small space is, what matters is the conditions that they put on the rental.
If they at the end of your lease if you are on lease, or if on monthly, tell you at the start of the monty you are going to have to start paying 1/2, you have not choice but to pay or move. The landlord and decide what percent they expect you to pay, you can either agree or move

charlotte234s · Dec 12, 2007, 09:07 PM

XD I didn't say do it, I said say you'll do it.

Sometimes idle threats work, and since their landlord is obviously a moron...

singgina · Dec 13, 2007, 02:07 PM

You need to insist on having her show youthe bills for utilities before you pay another dime. She is only lgetting away with this because you are letting her. You wouldn't go into a store or make any other purchase without knowing how much the cost is up front. She needs to have a formula on how she will charge you. It seems like she kindof has the formula i.e.. 1/2 of the utlities but you have every right to ask to see it.:mad:

ScottGem · Dec 13, 2007, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by singgina

You need to insist on having her show youthe bills for utilities before you pay another dime. She is only lgetting away with this because you are letting her. You wouldn't go into a store or make any other purchase without knowing how much the cost is up front. She needs to have a formula on how she will charge you. It seems like she kindof has the formula ie. 1/2 of the utlities but you have every right to ask to see it.:mad:

I disagree. Part of this depends on what the lease says. If the lease specifically states, 1/3 of electric bill, 10% of water, etc. then the tenant would be entitled to see those bills. But, from what's been said, I don't believe that is written into the lease.

We need to hear from the OP with more info.