Landlord is trying to bill me for new utilities

[mbbeaubi]

I'm in California

In my lease agreement, it says that the landlord is to pay for cable. I just received a notice saying that they will no longer be doing this. In addition, they will start charging a fee for garbage, which the landlord has always paid (for the 3 years I've lived here).

My questions are:
1. I don't think I should pay these. Is there some way legally I can make the landlord pay for these at least until my lease term is up?
2. Due to some other issues, I'm not wanting to live here anymore. Is there some way I can use this to get out of my lease?

Thanks

 

[Zigner]

If you have a valid lease, then changes cannot be made during the term of that lease (unless they are specifically allowed by the lease).

 

[Banned_Princess]

I'm in California

In my lease agreement, it says that the landlord is to pay for cable. I just received a notice saying that they will no longer be doing this. In addition, they will start charging a fee for garbage, which the landlord has always paid (for the 3 years I've lived here).

My questions are:
1. I don't think I should pay these. Is there some way legally I can make the landlord pay for these at least until my lease term is up?

Yes, you can tell him you are holding them to the complete terms of your signed lease.

2. Due to some other issues, I'm not wanting to live here anymore. Is there some way I can use this to get out of my lease?

Thanks

So you want them to fully comply with the lease agreement, but you want to break yours? then they can do something legally to make you pay for the loss of [whatever] to the place, including rent for when it is vacant, the price to put it back on the market, legal fees, on and on.

 

[FarmerJ]

Month to month rental or fixed term like 12 months at a time ?

 

[Banned_Princess]

Month to month rental or fixed term like 12 months at a time ?

Aha another brilliant catch by the farmer J.

Do you, original poster, have an actual yearly lease that you get new each year, or were you leased at first then converted to a month to month agreement?

 

[mbbeaubi]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Well the LL has stopped paying for my cable, so it's going to get cutoff. Do I pay for the cable out of pocket and then deduct that from my rent payments? I suppose I have to write them a letter saying that I'm doing this?

What about the garbage? My lease doesn't mention it specifically like the cable, but it seems wrong that they can start charging me for it in the middle of the lease.

Thanks for the help, I am wanting to follow the lease terms, but this isn't the first annoying thing the LL has done. I will be moving when my lease is up.

 

[mbbeaubi]

Aha another brilliant catch by the farmer J.

Do you, original poster, have an actual yearly lease that you get new each year, or were you leased at first then converted to a month to month agreement?

It's a yearly lease.

 

[Banned_Princess]

Very good then the answer you have received applies, and are correct.

You are both legally obligated to abide by your lease for the duration. If you want to move at the end, make sure you send sufficient notice that is stated in the lease. And if he wants to make changes, he can do it at the end. (no in the middle)

 

[FarmerJ]

If your current lease does not list garbage as included yes you could try to argue that it is by the leases silence But youll have to make that arguement to a court. So call around and find out how much trash pick up cost and dont forget to ask them if they have name stamped pre paid trash bags , ( alot cheaper for people who dont generate alot of trash ) Catv well LL made a mistake by inc it in the lease BUT if your in the 10th or 11th month of the lease , its not worth a big fight if you really like living where you are. ( BTW dont be shocked if you push it real hard and the LL re orders just local antenna service via the cable lines which is avail in many many markets as the lowest cost service )

 

[mbbeaubi]

Well, I guess I'll just go talk to the LL and see what they say, hopefully they'll be reasonable.

I was surprised that they would try something like this, this isn't a small rental, this is a large, corporate owned apartment complex. They are trying to change the lease terms of hundreds of leases to save a few thousand dollars... It doesn't make much sense to me.