utilities

Started by anotherresident

over 12 years ago

Posts: 2

Member since: Sep 2012

Discussion about

I live on the UES and moved into my rental apt in July 2013. I signed a lease and there was a rider included for addtional charges for water, boiler and sewage. This is in addition to the rent I'm already paying and in addition to my Con Ed and telephone, internet services. When I initially signed the lease the management estimated it would be an additional $50 but now it's more like $100! I have been talking to neighbors and it seems no one has this additional charge, even people who renewed their lease in July. Is this legal? Can they only charge me for this and not other tenants?

Response by aglasser

over 12 years ago

Posts: 5

Member since: Jun 2007

It would appear that there must be a separate water meter for your apartment and a separate boiler for heat and hot water. If your apartment is non regulated the owner can charge you for any and all utilities. If it is regulated he can most likely not charge you. That being said you can talk to the owner and ask why you were told it would be around $50 and now its double. Maybe you can negotiate your rent on the renewal based on you are paying all your own utilities. Is your rent less or more than your neighbors?

When all tenants start to pay for there own heat and water you will never see open windows in the winter or 30 min showers. One of the owners I know converted his building to electric heat. I inquired how much the electric bills were in the winter. The highest bill was $350 (they left windows open) but I spoke to one tenant who was very conservative with the heat and paid $80.

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Response by fieldschester

over 12 years ago

Posts: 3525

Member since: Jul 2013

>but I spoke to one tenant who was very conservative with the heat and paid $80.

utilities

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