Landlord pays Utilities

[detroitLL]

What is the name of your state? MI

I am a landlord of a two family flat in Detroit, MI. I have a lease with both of my tenants that says landlord will pay for the gas. In the last couple months the gas bill has got ridiciously high (over $300) in one month. Because of these high gas bills my profit margin is very low. My question is can I make an addendum to the lease that would make tenants responsible for the gas. Both tenants are 4 or 5 months into the lease. Both are also on sec. 8 and are 4 months behind on there portion of rent which is about $75 a month. So would I be better off trying to change lease or evict them both and bring in new tenants that will be responsible for gas.

 

[louiebingo]

Normally when a tenant is current with the rent, what you are contemplating is breaking the lease and that means you will have to pay the tenants to move, or be sued.

A lease is binding on both parties, and cannot be changed until renewal time.

Also in Most states it is Illegal to share a utility meter, that means you would have to pay the gas bill no matter how high it is.

 

[FarmerJ]

If you have a tenant who is behind on rent EVICT them , another thing you can do is If you have say hot water heat with 2 zones you can have flow meters installed for each unit and moniter the use and make changes in the lease when its time to renew ,that allow you to bill them your self for there use of heat . If the place by chance has 2 sep furnaces but only one gas meter get your gas co to install a sep meter . If you forsee in the future that your going to rewire and the structure is 2 story with 2nd floor having the upper unit by all means Go with electric oil filled heaters and electric cooking andhot water for that unit .