If I rent a house and there is a granny unit attached that we share all utilities with, is it legal to have shared utilities across tenants with separate leases?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I rent a house and there is a granny unit attached that we share all utilities with, is it legal to have shared utilities across tenants with separate leases?
Asked on January 21, 2013 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Believe it or not California Code actually addresses this issue. California Civil Code section 1940.9, shared utilities. The landlord is required to have you and the other tenant execute a mutual written agreement with the tenant for payment by the tenant of the cost of the gas or electric service provided through the tenant's meter to serve areas outside the tenant’s dwelling unit or make other arrangements in writing as to the matter that is explained in detail in the statute. It is not illegal if properly done. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.