Q: my landlord sent us a bill for the water for the last year and a half.
My landlord charges us for water every 2 months. We constantly had to ask him to send it and he would always say he would but never would send it. He just stopped sending the bill and then he unexpectedly sent us the bill for the past year and a half. Is this legal? There was no conversation of him giving us a break during COVID he implied thats what he did when i talked him about the bill.
A:
Under California law, landlords are generally allowed to charge tenants for water usage, but they must provide notice of the charges and the method of billing. Landlords must also comply with certain requirements related to the calculation and billing of water charges, including providing accurate and timely bills.
If your landlord failed to provide you with regular water bills and then unexpectedly sent you a bill for the past year and a half, this may be a violation of California law. Landlords are required to provide tenants with timely and accurate bills, and they may not retroactively charge tenants for services that were not previously billed or agreed upon.
It is important to review your lease agreement and any other documentation related to your tenancy to determine whether your landlord was authorized to charge you for water usage, and whether there were any specific terms or conditions related to the billing of water charges. If you believe that your landlord has violated California law or your lease agreement, you may want to consider consulting with an experienced landlord-tenant attorney who can advise you on your legal options.
If you need legal assistance, contact my office. We offer a free consultation option for potential clients.
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