Can a landlord charge us for water and sewage without an individual meter?
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Can a landlord charge us for water and sewage without an individual meter?
We live in a duplex with 1 water meter and receive bills every month ranging from $40-100 in addition to our rent.
Asked on September 7, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Utah
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Depending upon the municipality where the duplex is located, there might be a requirement that each rented unit have its own separate meter for water and sewage in that one cannot accurately gauge the monthly costs of water and sewage if two separate households based upon one meter.
In many situations where separate meters are required for individual units, one option to avoid the costs of installation of separate meters for each rented unit is for the landlord to pay the water and sewage on a monthly basis where the tenants pay a flat rental fee where utilities are included.
To answer your question, you need to contact your city's/town's local building and permit department to see if the duplex that you are in is required to have separate meters for each unit.
Good question.
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