[macguy]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

We have had a similiar experience but w/ a commercial building. There are 3 seperate buildings on 3 seperate tracts of land all next to each other and we were renting the one in the middle. Tried to purchase the property from the aging & ailing owner but to no avail. He died and left a mess w/ ex-wives, current wife, kids from both, etc. Each getting a piece of property of the many he owned. In our lease it was up to the landlord to pay the water but we covered the electricity. So this one grown child (elderly herself and in another city miles and miles away) inherits our building. The whole thing was in court for over a year. Then the guy next door comes over and hands us a bill for the water and says we are to split it w/ him because our 2 buildings are on one meter. Now, in this state that is NOT supposed to be but because of the location of this property being in the county and not city limits, it did. But only after the proper authorities came out to make sure that we did indeed share a meter AND we forced our "new" landlord to put in a seperate water meter for us as it was spelled out in the lease that they MUST provide such. It took months to get it all straightened out but it finally got resolved.

FYI, as a warning just in case any of you move to another state. There are VERY FEW landlords that will pay for the water even if it is a multi-tenant building. The only ones around this entire area are in low income areas. The rest it is up to each tenant to get the utilities in their own name and pay for them. So the poster that said it was ALWAYS the landlords responsibility to pay for the water is not quite right. It may be so in Florida but beaware that is not the case in every other state around. I have had rent houses and I have NEVER paid for the utilities including the water.

Good luck.

I think you have the idea someone is giving something away. I always pay the water garbage and sewer, It is figured into the rent anyway.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by macguy

I think you have the idea someone is giving something away. I always pay the water garbage and sewer, It is figured into the rent anyway.

In this state if the landlord paid the water bill they WOULD be giving something away. Because of the vast amount of difference in water usage HERE from winter to summer there is no way that anyone could average out the water bill to be built into the rent. And w/ the severe drought we are under right now and the water restrictions, . I think there would be some VERY upset renters if they were paying for water usage based on last years consumptions vs. this year. Some cities have already upped their water rates twice in the last few months because of it.

I was just trying to make some of you aware that if you move to another state the water is not ALWAYS paid for by the owner. That's all.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

In this state if the landlord paid the water bill they WOULD be giving something away. Because of the vast amount of difference in water usage HERE from winter to summer there is no way that anyone could average out the water bill to be built into the rent. And w/ the severe drought we are under right now and the water restrictions, . I think there would be some VERY upset renters if they were paying for water usage based on last years consumptions vs. this year. Some cities have already upped their water rates twice in the last few months because of it.

I was just trying to make some of you aware that if you move to another state the water is not ALWAYS paid for by the owner. That's all.

This is the Florida forum, I can't comment on other states. Down her the water part of the bill is very small although sewer charges do add up but could not vary by more then $5 or $10 on any given month. The biggest part of the bill is garbage that does not change.

On someone paying me $1200 or $1500 a month I don't really care one way or another about $10. either way. It is more important that the bill stay paid and the garbage be picked up and I want it in my name all the time. If they don't pay their cable or electric that's their problem.

I have my water bill right here.
Water $5.72
Sewer $9.31
Garbage $34.54
+ some kind of EPA thing $8.28
As you see the water is like nothing, not even worth talking about.

[momof2dfw]

I realize it is the Florida forum. I do read it as I do have interests there (family) and I do travel there. I thought I would be nice and pass on a tip that not everywhere is the water bill paid by the landlord. That way no one is in shock if they should relocate to another state. Just tryin to be nice is all.

BTW, I'll trade you water bills. Mine was well over $100 for the last month and that was with our tight water restrictions. In one neighboring suburb our water bill this time of year on a house 1/2 the size w/ no pool was well over $300. And that was w/ the rates 5 years ago. That city has upped their rates every year and are the ones that have done so twice as I mentioned. I would hate to know what those people are paying now.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

I realize it is the Florida forum. I do read it as I do have interests there (family) and I do travel there. I thought I would be nice and pass on a tip that not everywhere is the water bill paid by the landlord. That way no one is in shock if they should relocate to another state. Just tryin to be nice is all.

BTW, I'll trade you water bills. Mine was well over $100 for the last month and that was with our tight water restrictions. In one neighboring suburb our water bill this time of year on a house 1/2 the size w/ no pool was well over $300. And that was w/ the rates 5 years ago. That city has upped their rates every year and are the ones that have done so twice as I mentioned. I would hate to know what those people are paying now.

It can be real apples and oranges. I am looking to buy a place now in a small town in Nothetrn Florida and although it is out a ways it is on city water. When I was checking on the water cost it was 4 times what I pay now, althought the garbage is only $45 quarterly.

I could see a land lord renting out a $400 a month trailer getting beat pretty good with some tenent whose kids like to play in the sprinkler all day. I am sure the arrangement would have to be different.

[Jeffrey Spaulding]

Originally Posted by SleepingDragon

Ask for $10,000 or more for his negligence. I am not kidding. Let HIM go after the lawyer who wrote the lease.

Let me reiterate: Trying to gouge $10K from someone for a simple oversight, where you incurred no harm, will turn YOU into the "bad guy" here and ruin your reputation in the community. (Realtors like Dragon don't care about this b/c their reputation is already tawdry by virtue of their profession, which ranks just below courtesan in terms of societal reprobation). In addition, the person you try to steal (and that's what it is) $10K from will find a way to get even with you or your family. If it takes 10 years, they'll find a way to sue you for $50K.

Don't be greedy like Dragon advises; it will complicate this situation in ways you (and she) cannot imagine.

[Rebecca in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Southside Shrek

send the bills to the attorney who made the 'oops' mistake in drafting your condo lease.

I think that is why the attorney is trying to fix it!!!! he doesn't want to end up paying for it.

I would leave it as is. You said it was paid finally for the past bills. Therefore, they will continue to do so. (keep hanging them on the sons door That would have been the only thing I worried about. (getting shut off) They can't change what your lease says w/out your signing, so don't sign, and the lawyer and the owner will continue to argue about it. That is a HUGE mistake for a lawyer who specializes in rentals to make!!!!!! I think he is now trying to save his A@@ and keep business, but you don't need to pay it.

[Rebecca in Tampa]

Originally Posted by SleepingDragon

Both were negligent and both should be responsible. Call your local board of Realtors and go after the agent.
That's what the Board of Realtors and The Florida Real Estate Commission is there for.

She didn't say it was a Realtor. Matter of fact it was an Attorney. So the Real Estate board doesn't have anything to do with owner/managers.

[SunnyDog]

[quote=mrshvo;75606]I am in a situation in which I have a 2 year lease that I had signed in May. Today I just got word that they made a "mistake" when they created my lease. An utility that on the lease the landlord is supposed to pay, they are now saying "whoops" and that it is my responsibilty.





As an individual who has leased condo's for nearly a decade now, I confidently deem the appropriate response to this lease agreement "whoops" to be "tough s#!t motherf@#ker!"

[Muggy]

OT but related: for anyone following this thread looking for general renting advice for Florida: make sure you have a "force majeure" clause in your agreement. If a hurricane levels the joint you need to be able to walk away.

I don't know if this is standard or not. Just make sure you can walk...