Utilities, landlord hasnt billed us in 20 months

[ericc]

Minnesota

I am from Minnesota I entered into a lease 2 years ago, in a duplex with a single utility meter. The lease stated I was to pay for utilities. (heat, water and garbage) I resigned the lease 6 months in and will be living in the apt under the lease until July 27 2006. It has been 22 months and I have never received a bill.

I talked to the previous tenants, and they states they had not received a bill for the previous 6 months. The property has not received a utility bill for 28 months. I have been living here for 22 of them.

I have asked the landlord to give me the bill at least 6 times. I even tried to break lease because of this and was told they would not let me out of our contract.

I have never received any estimates of any kind, and I have not received any information on any form of energy assistance.

The lease does not specify any timeframe for billing.

The first lease we signed in done and over with as of August 10th 2005.

I received a phone call from the landlord in march saying they intend to bill us, but it has been three months and I have yet to see a bill. During our conversation she said she will be keeping my damage deposit for the first years utilities (which she never billed me for).

Is any of this legal?

My main question is: Can my landlord present me with one huge bill at the end of my lease?

Can they expect me to pay all at once if they can?

Thank you for any help.What is the name of your state?

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by ericc

Minnesota

I am from Minnesota I entered into a lease 2 years ago, in a duplex with a single utility meter. The lease stated I was to pay for utilities. (heat, water and garbage) I resigned the lease 6 months in and will be living in the apt under the lease until July 27 2006. It has been 22 months and I have never received a bill.

I talked to the previous tenants, and they states they had not received a bill for the previous 6 months. The property has not received a utility bill for 28 months. I have been living here for 22 of them.

I have asked the landlord to give me the bill at least 6 times. I even tried to break lease because of this and was told they would not let me out of our contract.

I have never received any estimates of any kind, and I have not received any information on any form of energy assistance.

The lease does not specify any timeframe for billing.

The first lease we signed in done and over with as of August 10th 2005.

I received a phone call from the landlord in march saying they intend to bill us, but it has been three months and I have yet to see a bill. During our conversation she said she will be keeping my damage deposit for the first years utilities (which she never billed me for).

Is any of this legal?

My main question is: Can my landlord present me with one huge bill at the end of my lease?

Can they expect me to pay all at once if they can?

Thank you for any help.What is the name of your state?

Q: Can my landlord present me with one huge bill at the end of my lease?

A: Yes.

[FarmerJ]

You dont say what city your in , up here in order to make a tenant pay a utility it must be on its own meter, so if theres only one electric meter wich util uses to bill then the bill must be in the LLs name. If the LL goes to the trouble of installing a sub meter . THEN the tenant can be made to pay the use of the submeter. If you are with in the metro dial area contact the MN tenants union in mpls. OR call your city hall /county govt center for info pamphlets on tenant / LL rights . Henn co used to have them at the same desk where LLs went to file UD. Other wise re check LL/T info at [url]http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=NorthStar[/url]