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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default California landlord started charging for utilities

    Hi,

    I have been renting an apartment in a high-rise building for nearly 6 years
    (in California). I am about halfway through a 12-month lease.

    I just received a bill for utilities - including a new account fee! -
    for water, sewer, etc. I have never been billed for these services
    in the past; I assume that the landlord paid them.

    I looked through my lease, and I can't find any mention of who will
    pay for utilities. Is it legal for my landlord to start charging for them
    midway through the term of my lease?

    One more thing: the lease I signed was with a different owner/landlord.
    The building was sold several months ago - a couple of months after I
    signed my current lease.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: California landlord started charging for utilities

    I suspect that the new landlord looked over the leases, saw that they are silent on the question, and decided to charge for utilities. You can try to argue with them that you should only have to pay in accord with past practices, and see what happens. If they won't agree, consider consulting a local lawyer to clarify your rights and, if non-payment of the utilities is deemed legally viable, to send a letter to the landlord asserting your rights. If you simply don't pay, they may take legal action including the possibility that they will try to evict you.

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