Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida

we rented a apt in Jacksonville fl. for our grand daughter and her baby . this is a very old complex ,however it is close to our home so we are to help her ,job,baby etc. .. The rent for this very small 1 bedroom apt was 639.00 . we were told the electric was separate but the water was included with the rent . what happen next was a invoice for 619.00 (base rent) + 52.54 water/sewer was added and her invoice stated rent due for ov. was 671.54 which she payed . Dec. 15 her invoice stated 693. some change . when she ask why the amount was so high and requested to see her meter we were informed that ther was one meter which the entire complex shared and the cost was split equal amounts to each tenant. Since there are apts. that have many children and do wash etc... while my grand daughter does her wash at my house . my question is it legal to charge someone for cost when it is a service they don't even know they are using . They have refuse our payment of the rent fee unless we pay the 74.+ $ for the water /sewer fee. which comes to 713. + . her rent was 639.00 and they have increase this amount every mo. due to the shared meter . The city ,nor JEA can tell me if this is legal .


Asked on 12/03/15, 8:46 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
David Slater David P. Slater, Esq.

Your written lease should spell this out.

Read more
Answered on 12/03/15, 10:25 am
Barry Stein De Cardenas, Freixas, Stein & Zachary

Your written lease controls in this situation. Impossible to assist without seeing the lease. The equal split may be the way that it needs to be done. The comparison on each unit may not come into play. The fact that your granddaughter does not use the water/sewer as much as everyone else does not likely justify her paying less. I am confused by the statement that water is included? Why is it being added to the base rental if it is included? Did you ask for examples of the monthly charges for water prior to signing the lease? were these provided? There really are more questions with your fact pattern than answers. Seek help from a local attorney.

Read more
Answered on 12/03/15, 10:59 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Florida