Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

The electric meters where I live were illegally set up and I've been paying the electric bill for the downstairs neighbor. Can I get that money back?

I discovered the problem when I called the electric company to come to my apartment and assess why I was paying $90.00 a month for using a refrigerator and two lamps. The electrician checked the cellar and a switch box and explained the meters were not connected properly and I was being charged for the family downstairs. The landlord had to fix it after this happened. My bill has gone down to less than $30.00, but the landlord refuses to pay the approximately $250.00 I have paid extra over the months for the neighbor's bill. She says I have no proof there was a problem--despite the fact she had it fixed and my bill is much less now. The landlord has also told me she is not renewing my lease when it expires at the end of July. Do I have any recourse to retrieve the money owed to me?


Asked on 6/06/12, 1:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

File either a small claims action or a claim in housing court for the $250.00. Send your landlord a certified letter return receipt requesting the $250 with proof on how you calculated it. Give him 30 days to respond and then file suit. You can send a 93A letter and make the same demand and then if he does not respond properly he may be subject to treble (3x) damages. .

However, you need to make sure you have proof of your claim. Usage in winter months tends to be greater than now.

Good Luck

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Answered on 6/06/12, 1:36 pm


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