Huge rent increase, as well as added utility share

[Klieka]

What is the name of your state? PA

My brother's landlord just notified him two weeks ago that this week he needs to pay $600.00 in rent (he has been paying $430.00). He had a real estate agency call to notify him of an added heat bill of $225.00. His utilities are included because he lives above a department store as well as along side another apartment, there are no separate meters for utilites.
I understand there are no caps on rent increases in PA or Philadelphia to be specific and a utility is a hidden rent increase. My question is, without separate meters is this legal?
Please understand since my brother has had a quadruple bypass, I'm trying to do his leg work to keep him from getting too excited about this. Should we just be looking for another apartment as he can't afford this $395.00 increase?

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? PA

My brother's landlord just notified him two weeks ago that this week he needs to pay $600.00 in rent (he has been paying $430.00). He had a real estate agency call to notify him of an added heat bill of $225.00. His utilities are included because he lives above a department store as well as along side another apartment, there are no separate meters for utilites.
I understand there are no caps on rent increases in PA or Philadelphia to be specific and a utility is a hidden rent increase. My question is, without separate meters is this legal?
Please understand since my brother has had a quadruple bypass, I'm trying to do his leg work to keep him from getting too excited about this. Should we just be looking for another apartment as he can't afford this $395.00 increase?

**A: that was not too smart to rent a place where the utilities are shared and there is no control over usage.

 

[Klieka]

*** A: You may need to pay more attention to detail before responding, as I wrote, utilities are included up until this point. Thank you

 

[HomeGuru]

*** A: You may need to pay more attention to detail before responding, as I wrote, utilities are included up until this point. Thank you

**A: read my post again. He has no control over utilities and I will spell it out for you this time. He has no written fixed lease agreement to protect him from rent AND UTILITY increases. Therefore he has no control over the increases or added costs. Thus if you paid more attention to detail before responding, you would concur that it was not smart of him to rent a place where the utlities are shared and there is no control over usage.

 

[Klieka]

Hmm, I suppose I must try another tactic. Maybe assuming to ask for an a more appropriate response in this forum was a lack in judgment. I realize for future readers when writing that utilities were included, I didn't specify that he had a lease. (imagine that) For those of you who know some tenant/landlord law, once that lease has expired, this contract then continues on a month to month basis (if) it is so stated. Which in this case it is. I am not asking anyone to judge a family members character nor would I presume to treat anyone in this manner. What I am asking for, and yes, I will spell it out, is ... phew, since I am a landlord in another state, in my state it is illegal to have a tenant pay for any utilities that are not specifically zoned for that said apartment. Can I assume that this person who is responding to my plight is so non eloquently stating that in PA this is not the case?
Thank you

 

[Klieka]

Thank you for reading and taking the time to respond. I had my brother inform his landlord of our intent on checking into the legalities of PA law, specifically on single metered, multi dwelling rentals. His landlord agreed to just keep the single rent increase but would like help with the heat bill for this one month. I do realize this is giving a little on both their parts ... but, it will do.

 

[FarmerJ]

find out if your brother qaulifys for winter fuel assistance and if he does qaulify if it can be forwarded to the LL .In my state that is what is done when the tenants utilitys are inc in some situations .