Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

I singned a lease that stated i am to pay all utlities, the problem is there is a unit behind me on the same property and my water service was shut off and i came to find out that i have been paying their water too because they did not have water service either.Now the manager is trying to say that was the agreement but it does not state that and they are their own separate unit.The manager went to pay the bill to restore it because the other tenants were calling her upset. The manager came to my house to tell me she paid for it with the rent i gave her and that i was still owing rent. the check i made out was from 3 days prior to this and made out to pay for rent not to pay the water. I dont know who to go for help now because she is talking of eviction now for being behind on rent.


Asked on 11/26/12, 6:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daphne Macklin Law Office of Daphne L. Macklin

You should contact the LSC-funded legal assistance program in your community. Your landlord/manager was required to have separate metering for the water service to the two separate units. If you paid what you understood to be rent, you have a defense to an eviction claim. You should contact the water utility about the problem and the local building department as there are probably other problems that need to be brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities.

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Answered on 11/27/12, 5:18 pm


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