Paying estimated water bills (apartment complex, lease, tenants)

[CrownPrincess]

How long can a tennant pay an estimated water bill. My meter has been broken for a year and a half...supposedly. Since then I have been over paying the water bill and have consistently been told that when the meter is fixed I will get a 'true' water bill. I know that will never happen because apartment complexes are notorious for 'reselling' water. Some months the bill is probably correct then other months its almost 4 times the amount. This seems so unfair! Does a tennant have any recourse? Besides moving?

[CrownPrincess]

I would really like some input on this situation. Can anything be done about apt complexes ripping off tenants? For the past 4months the water bill has tripled. 6more months on lease. Any recourse?

[jsvh]

This looks relevant:

I rent an apartment in a complex with more than 20 units. My unit does not have a water
meter. My landlord bills me for water. I think I am paying more than my fair share of the
water bill. What can I do?

Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §12-5-180.1) your landlord can have only one water meter
for the apartment complex and charge tenants for water usage and waste-water service, plus a
reasonable fee for establishing, servicing, and billing for the water service. The amount billed
includes water used by the tenants and water used in the complex’s common areas. The amount
the landlord collects from each tenant must not exceed the amount the landlord is charged for
water and waste-water service for the building and the common areas, plus the landlord’s fee.

From page 30: http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/h...t_Handbook.pdf

[CrownPrincess]

Thanks. I read that before. In the handbook it states that the landlord must state how water is calculated. I have been told several lies about how it's calculated from the readings being beamed by satellite...to basing the usage on what it was a year ago to the meter is broken. No one can tell me specifically. I can't wait til the lease is up.

[jsvh]

I'd try to get them to give you how they claim they are doing the math for your water bill in writing. Then contact your local water utility and try to get the info from them. If they are distorting it and lying to you, you should be able to take them to small claims court.

[CrownPrincess]

Thank you.