Can I charge my landlord for part of the cost of heating water for apartments other than my own?
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Can I charge my landlord for part of the cost of heating water for apartments other than my own?
I live in a house which has 3 apartments. I pay my utilities and the landlord pays the utilities for the other 2. There is only one water heater and it is connected to my electric.
Asked on October 3, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Ohio
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have a written lease concerning the rental that you have, you need to carefully read it in thta its terms and conditions control the obligations owed to you by the landlord and vice versa in the absence of conflicting state law.
If there is no language concerning who pays for the cost of the water heater in your lease, then it would seem that the landord would be responsible for it if the water heater's (electrical, propane or natural gas heat) monthly cost is not stated.
The best way to answer your question is to look at the provisions in your written lease (assuming you have one) regarding the payment of utilities. It makes sense that the costs for heating the water heater if not specifically stated in your written lease (assuming you have one) should be divided out per unit.
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