shared utilitiy bill issue

[jadegreen]

What is the name of your state? Hi
Have been in the same rental home for about 15 yrs. Utilities were always covered unitl the house was sold now 3 times. I know things change & we understand that. The problem is that there is only one meter in our downstairs unit for us & the renters upstairs.
The management co that took over deceided that we should just split the bill between the two units equal. My husband & I are 63 & the family upstairs have 2 teenage boys & 2 air conditioners going becasue it is so hot----We understand the heat & how no one should suffer from it but, we don't feel like we should have to pay for them using 2 air conditioners . We have one downstairs but don't use it- We try to cut back on a lot of things because the electricity has gotten so high---bills are running 750.00--
They also have problems with fuses blowing & then they have to come downstairs to let us know so that we can do the switch---not really a problem but worries me that something is being overloaded? Another thing that worries me if we ever go on vacation there would be no one here to flip the switch----Now the management co wants us to put the Electric bill in one of our names or both (don't know how that works) . The whole thing just causes bad unnecessary feelings between tennants. We get along but there is this edge---How could we handle the problem & maybe have them pay more because of the 2 air conditioners...
We don't care if they want to run them day & night we just don't feel like we should have to pay for it when we are trying to cut costs downstairs---When the new owner took over we had been in the house by ourselves with no one upstairs for about 6 months & it showed how much electricity we used each month--The new management guy sit in our living room & said that becasue we had an average he would make them pay more upstairs if it went over a certain amount--Well when the first bill came he just told us both to split it becasue he didn't want to deal with it---sorry so long--any suggestions? thanks
ps we have been month to month---no lease for about 2 yrs

 

[FarmerJ]

start with calling your city/county govt center to learn if there is any local ordinances requiring rental owners of multi unit with single metered utility leave the bill in the LLs name. ALSO learn from your local housing code inspector if Tenants must all have eqaul access to fuse boxes. If so then perhaps the LL will have to do something else about it since they cannot have access to your unit. About the tripping of fuse/breakers it self Send your LL a written letter certified mail telling him/her that if the other tenant is blowing the circuits often now then most likely the A/C units they are using are too large for the circuits they are plugged into and causing over load wich can cause fire. Keep that letter some where else like in your bank box and update your renters ins so if there is a fire from this overload you will be able to make it all the easier for your insurer to collect and pay you. SOME local electric utilitys also know if there is any state statute in place addressing meter sharing. Keep all your communications with this LL in written form with at the very least certificate of mailing rcts so that way you will have proof of what was said. BTW if there is no law forbiding shared metering / bill split then last thing here is that if there is no other access to the fusebox other than your unit under no circumstances should the other tenant be given a key to your unit. if your not home management will simply have to send maint out to reset it every time it trips while your gone and perhaps that will be enough to make them get the other tenant to use units with lower amperage draw.

 

[jadegreen]

sharing utiltiy bill

farmerJ**************Thanks for your response...... i really need help also on how to determine spliting the electric bill----I feel like we are paying for the gas on my neighbors car & we are not driving it-----How would each of you handle it if you were made to split the electric bill with another tennant & they had 2 air conditioners running & you have none?? On reading the post here by many I can see that the law is being upheld for basically the landlord or property owner----ok, that's all ok & well but if it weren't for us paying rent ,your mortage every month you wouldn't be able to accumalate your new financal venture in life.
although a lot of people thing that we are low life we are basically a big financial bonus for you so, I think it 's time for a little respect.....So you have to paint or take care of normal wear & tear----take pride --be thankful & quit using the law to take advantage of being a respectful landowner---WE have alwasy tried to be good tennants but. we have found that if we request things to be done that need to be done our rent goes higher to pay for it-----so, we don't ask ask more-----I know I will probably get a lot of negative comments from my comment but I expect it----I'd probably feel the same way if I were a landlord----I also noticed one post that was making his case that he moved out early & had bought a home but, had paid up to a certain date on the rental unit--The new person who was to take over wanted to come in a day early to clean---I notices a few of you couldn't understand why he put up a fuss & didn't want her to come in early to clean--he was still responsilbe for the unit----it's amazing how the law only applies to a few & tried to be forgotten by many.....

 

[FarmerJ]

It appears you allready have judged your own situation, DID you any of your home work to learn if the matter is addressed by state or local law ? if your just gonna cave in and pay it , I have no clue but would suggest you drop the attitude that LL/ T laws dont help tenants . It is a 2 way street and when either a LL or Tenant doesnt follow laws or IF a LL acts unfairly then the court is where these matters should be addressed. And as far as tenants go , many not all but many do indeed think that somehow they are special and forget that having rental property is a business. There is alot of variation in LL/T laws , some states being more favorable to tenants and some more to LLs and many right in the middle. Your local electric utility can assist you with rough calculations of use if you call them with a list of what you do and dont use at home. Other wise ask that your LL at the next lease renewal add on a extra flat fee per window A/C or extra major appliance into the leases and then remove your unit.