Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

it's whatever you agreed to with your mates, who are your partners in this situation. On the one hand, if utilities include heat you are probably jointly liable under the lease for keeping the place warm enough to avoid bursting pipes.... On the other hand utilities are used and consumed so if you are not using any you might say those are really up to your partners, but if they are hassling you for them, I would suggest you chip in something just to avoid problems. On the other hand, you may have an equal right to "sublet" your rights to a replacement but that could cause headaches too.