Who Should Pay For The Water Bill,tenant Or Landlord?
Days ago I posted a message here saying water bill is high for our two-family. The tenant stayed in the house before we bought it. Their lease says "Lessee shall be responsible for arranging for and paying for all utility services required on the premises, except that of lessor security lights shall be provided by Lessor." Should they pay for their water bill also? They pay for their own gas and electricity bill. I talked to the tenant, but she said she never paid for water bill. She said she is only responsible for her hot water but not cold water. There is no place on their lease mention water. Is water a part of their utility? Who should pay for it? Thanks.
Water sounds like a utility to me. She may think she is only responsible for "hot water" (I guess she means the heating costs, since it should be all one water bill), but the lease says otherwise.
Here in California it is vital to pay the water bill for rentals. Lawn care/landscaping is the main reason, if you must recoop you can add it into the rents. Usually water and garbage it is better to pay to keep control. This way the tenant cannot neglect these important utilities.
Take care,
[addsig]