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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Can a Landlord Require a Tenant to Sign Additional Documents

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Texas

    Hello, all. I have a question regarding a landlord's ability to require tenants to sign additional documents after the original lease agreement has been executed. After noticing some charges on my monthly billing statement (rent and utilities), I decided to ask some questions. As it turns out, my landlord is charging tenants for a utility that I don't believe is allowed under the terms of the lease. The agreement specifically states that if a utility is billed based on an allocation formula, the formula and additional information are required to be included as an addendum to the lease. However, this addendum was not part of the lease agreement that I signed, and the landlord has acknowledged that.

    Now I am being asked to sign the addendum that was required to be included in the original lease agreement. Do I have to sign it? I'm also not sure what to do about these charges I am receiving that are not allowed based on the omission of the aforementioned addendum. If anyone could shed some light on this I would be very appreciative. Thank you!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Can Lanlord Require Me to Sign Additional Documents

    No, you don't have to sign anything new.

    However, you do have to pay for your use of utilities unless the lease actually says that utilities are included in the rent amount.

    Does it?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Can Lanlord Require Me to Sign Additional Documents

    The lease makes a very general statement on that. It gives a list of utilities and states that if any of the boxes are checked, the landlord will pay those (none are checked). It then states that tenants are responsible for all other utilities. However, the lease states that the landlord is required to attach an addendum on any utilities that use an allocation formula. That addendum is missing as I said.

    The interesting thing is that the utility I am being charged for is a "central plant" assessment for electricity used for air conditioning because the building is old. I also pay an electric bill that I set up on my own (not through the landlord). To be in compliance with applicable agencies, the lease states that an addendum outlining these charges MUST be included. The fact that they are now trying to get me to sign an additional document conveys to me that they are required to have that signed in order to charge me. If they didn't need to do so, why would they even bother with getting me to sign the addendum?

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