QUESTION
Is it legal for a landlord to charge me with the whole building's electric bill?
Asked on Jul 25th, 2013 on Landlord and Tenant Law - New York
More details to this question:
I have the electric in my name and the apartment I'm in is charging me for the rest of the building’s electric bill. The landlord told me my rent will go up from month to month.
4 ANSWERS
Land Use Attorney serving Tacoma, WA
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Harper Law Offices, Inc., P.S.
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Typically power is either individually metered, or based on a percentage. You do not occupy the entire building, so you should not be responsible for the entire building's power usage. I would think that other tenants would be responsible for their share as well.
Answered on Jul 26th, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Business Law Attorney serving Bingham Farms, MI
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James T. Weiner, P.C.
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Yes its legal if you agreed to it in a lease.. However if you have a month to month lease you can move with 30 days notice.
Answered on Jul 26th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
You should not be paying for the entire building but I do not understand why just you would be billed if there are other units there. Are you the only unit and are objecting to outside electrical billings? Who pays is a matter of what the rental contract says. The landlord needs to give you thirty days written notice to change any part of the contract, including? the amount of rent that you pay.
Answered on Jul 26th, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Ernest Jerome Dubose
It is very illegal for a landlord to force a tenant to pay for a electricity. But a landlord can increase rents on a month to month.
Answered on Jul 26th, 2013 at 9:28 AM