Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: Tenant-landlord responsabilities

Responsibility for paying utilities is a matter of agreement between the parties. If you have a lease, it should address who pays what. If you have no written lease, then its a matter of what you agreed to with the landlord. If there is no agreement (written or oral) as to who is responsible for payment of these two utilies, its going to be a question for a judge to resolve. I would, if I were you, make the argument to the landlord that unless he specifically stated that you were responsible for these costs, it is included in the rent.

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Re: Tenant-landlord responsabilities

I am aware of no set rule requiring a landlord to pay his tenant's utilities but in my experience usually the landlord pays garbage and water. Landlord's also generally cannot lawfully interrupt utility service. There are further provisions in the Public Utilities Code to ensure that utility providers don't cut off service for a landlord's failure to pay.

Check your lease.