Q: My eletricity bill came $800 because the house is without insulation. Can I request help to pay for this bill?
I rented a house in Maryland for a month and a half, and only after living in the house did we realize that the house is always cold and the floor is extremely cold. We checked that the house was without any insulation on the floor. Right now my bill of energy came in at $ 800 because of the heater's huge effort to keep the house warm. I wonder if by ethics and even legally, they should help me to afford the bill of energy considering that the problem is in the house.
A: That all depends on what your lease says.
A:
We've certainly faced a cold snap here in Maryland that has taxed many heating systems! If the lease puts all utilities on the tenant then it is unlikely that the LL would have a legal obligation to contribute even in exceptionally cold/hot months. However, as another attorney noted, one cannot really analyze obligations without looking at the lease.
That being said, where poor insulation is an issue with a property, a tenant might consider asking the Landlord to insulate, or perhaps suggest that Tenant provide the insulation materials/labor in exchange for a corresponding reduction in rent.
While this response isn't legal advice I hope that it helps.
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