Is it legal for them to make us pay the water bill?

Question

I live in an apartment complex. Each apartment building holds 11 apartments but we all share a water tank that is located in the laundry room. Up until now water was something that the rent and utility fee covered but we all just received a letter stating that starting in January we will have to share the cost of the buildings water bill. I dont see how that it is fair or even legal since each apartment may different in the amount of water they use. We have 3 - 1 bedroom apts and 8 - 2 bedroom apartments in each building so how would this be fair to people who have only themselves living in apartment and would use less water then say a family of 4 would.

Update:

On the lease we signed we pay an extra $10 for a utility fee but this would be a bill that the we in the building would have to split equally.

? · Accepted Answer

What they did at my old apartment complex was take the total for the water bill and divide by how many people were in the entire complex, then how many people were in each apartment. So, if the water bill came out to $300 and there were 20 people in a complex, then each person's individual bill was $15. So in a family of 4, their bill would be $60 versus a family of 2, which is only $30.

But I don't know how your complex is going to do it, that's just an example of how it's usually done.

Edit to add: I should also mention that I had signed a lease saying that I had to pay for water. But at my second apartment complex, they made us recertify our lease at the end of each year, signing for new policies and stuff. It depends on each complex, but they were allowed to evict us if we refused to sign for the new changes, which could include a raise in rent or change in utilities.

acermill · Answer

Your lease contract (if any) will control in this situation.  If you have a current longer term lease, the apartment cannot impose this fee until the lease(s) expire.  At expiration, they are free to change the rules which would be included in any new lease contract.  That they want this fee split equally is immaterial (perhaps unfair, but still legal)  Your choice, when that time arrives, is to accept the new rule or find a different place to live.

msi_cord · Answer

Your lease will govern if this is legal or not.  If it states that utilities are included and the term of the lease has not expired, your landlord cannot change those terms until your lease expires.

B · Answer

You have to read your lease. If it says utility surcharges may be added in colder months, you don't have a choice, but if there is no mention-the landlord cant legally make you pay until they change your lease and you sign it.

Judy · Answer

Yes, but can't change terms mid-lease unless the lease allows it.

Jay L · Answer

look at you rental agreement  and see what it says.  

If the agreement says utilities are included in the rent, then the landlord cannot change the terms.  PERIOD.

? · Answer

make the bigger families pay more

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Is it legal for them to make us pay the water bill?

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