Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
Can my landlord have my electricity and water attached to another apartment?
The electricity and water in our apartment are on the same lines as the apartment above us.
We have no relationship to the people above us except for a common landlord and when they don't pay their bill our water and electricity is shut off as well.
Does our landlord have an obligation here? Are they allowed to have the water and electricity connected in the way in the first place?
Thank you
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Can my landlord have my electricity and water attached to another apartment?
Gas and electricity can be shared, but the landlord must make a full disclosure of any such arrangement before the tenant signs the lease or rental agreement and moves in. See Civil Code section 1940.9. You should read that section, as it imposes further responsibilities on the landlord to take steps to prevent billing problems, and it's a bit too long to quote the full text here.
I did not find any similar statutory provision relating to water service, but you might be able to assert that a similar disclosure requirement exists under common-law principles. After I send this, I will do a little further research on the shared water issue and post a follow-up if I find anything.
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