Proof Of Utilities

[JPAYNE1991]

What is the name of your state? FLORIDA

My wife and I rent a mother-in-law suite on the side of our loandlords house. According to our lease, we are responsible for 1/2 of the utilities. We have had a few mistakes made by our land lord in the past and have asked that going forward we receive copies of the actual utility bills to ensure accuracy. She has not provided this to us and has now threatened legal action if we do not pay the utilities that she says we owe. Do we have the right to get copies of the actual utility bills before payment? Can someone please email me any advice on this matter. [email protected] -or- [email protected]

 

[FarmerJ]

You need to either review your states laws to see if so called utility splitting is allowed. In some states the only way a tenant can be made to pay a utility fee is if the tenants unit has either a meter belonging to the utility co OR a sub meter system that still shows exactly how much water/ gas/ electricity / heat/ the unit used. Your states public utility commision may also be a good source of information for rules on Sub metering and utility splitting when there is only single utility owned meters servicing a multi unit and either no other meter or sub meters connected after the utilitys meter.