Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
No individual water meters
My son recently rented an apartment. Part of his rental agreement states that he is responsible for a percentage of the building's water bill even though his apartment does not have an individual meter. This makes him responsible for part of the laundry room, landscaping, etc. I thought you had to have a meter in order to be charged for water.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: No individual water meters
There are some general provisions in the Public Utility Code about common-meter and separate-meter water service to apartments, but I know of nothing making a lease provision where tanants share the water bill unenforceable. Keep in mind that if he rented a whole house he would be paying 100% of the utilities (usually) and also mowing the lawn, etc. There is nothing unusual about requiring tenants to pay some or all of their utilities separately and this includes water to common areas. And you don't have to have a meter to be charged for water! Many communities don't have water meters.....every occupant is billed a flat amount based on the size of his connecting pipe.
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