Retrospectively reassigned heating bill

[John111]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? New Jersey

I was renting an apartment in NJ Passaic County from June, 2004 to February, 2005. Tenancy did not specify anything about who pays for utilities. We agreed verbally that I am paying only for electricity and landlord is paying for gas, heating (gas), garbage disposal, water, etc.

On the first day of my residence I informed Public Service Electricity and Gas (PSE&G) company that I moved into apartment. Each month I was receiving bill from PSE&G and it included only electricity charges which I was paying promptly.

Landlord was paying for my heating as agreed till January. January was very cold, so probably bill was quite big. He told me that it was error and that I was supposed to pay for heating and he wants me to reimburse everything he paid. He denied our verbal agreement and refused to explain why he was waiting for 5 months to tell me this. As it was month-to-month tenancy and apartment was overpriced even including heating costs, I gave one month notice and left.

A few days ago I received a bill from PSE&G asking to pay over $1000 for heating (gas) for entire winter. I called them and they explained that my landlord told that it was error and that I was supposed to pay for heating. PSE&G refuses to forward bill to my landlord and tells that I am liable as I was living there.

Who should pay for heating if it is not mentioned on signed lease? Can landlord change lease terms retrospectively 5 months? Please advise what to do.

Thanks a lot.

John

 

[FarmerJ]

if you have a written lease form that says the heat was included make a copy of it and send the copy to the utility and tell them they are not to bother you again . If nothing at all was in writting again your going to have to do just abit more than that .Contact your states public utility commision and ask if they have any rules addressing your situation .

 

[John111]

FarmerJ, thank you very much for your reply.

Lease I signed does not say a word about utilities. PSE&G states that I am responsible because there was a separate meter device for my apartment. I had no idea about that device or that it makes me responsible even if landlord said that he was going to pay. Furthermore, PSE&G was billing my landlord for 5 months and all that time meter was already there. Now, after just one phone call made by my landlord, they gave him credit and billed me for all 5 months.

Unfortunately, Google does not find any New Jersey public utility commission. Does anyone has an idea how such organization is called in NJ?

Thank you,

John

 

[PghREA]

Try looking in the state government listings in the local yellow pages (phone book.) Or call the gas company and ask.