Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Ohio

Utilities for ''common areas''

Is it a rental properties responsibility to pay the utilities (water). We pay for the gas,phone and electric. We live in a multi-unit complex 12 apartments per building. We do not have our own hot water tank in the unit. We received a letter stating that they want to start charging for utilities that are used in ''common areas''. They mentioned the billing would be coming from an idependent billing center. I'm guessing they must own that also. They said the charge would not be more then 25.00 a month. How can they determine the cost for each unit? There aren't any meters for water per unit. It sounds like they are just going to divide their bill they receive among all the tenants( est. 96 apartments). Is this really something they can do legally?


Asked on 7/11/01, 9:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gregg Manes Gregg A. Manes, Esq.

Re: Utilities for ''common areas''

The landlord cannot increase the rent if there is a lease in the middle of the lease if the lease says so. Otherwise the landlord should wait until the lease expires.

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Answered on 7/14/01, 3:14 pm


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