What to do if I’m renting commercial office space and the Landlord keeps adding additional charges each month?

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What to do if I’m renting commercial office space and the Landlord keeps adding additional charges each month?

The first few months I paid for the additional items, but then stopped. In addition,he bills me $80 monthly for water/sewer. He states this is 24% of the total bill each month, since I lease 24% of the building. I have paid this for the past 8 mo.I have asked for copies of the water bill. When he finally forwarded me a copy of 2 bills I discovered the water bill for the entire building is about $120/mo. I informed the Landlord that I should have a large credit so I did not pay the $80 water bill this month. I also refused to pay the additional $40/mo for “mulching”. He states he will evict me in 5 days.

Asked on January 27, 2013 under Real Estate Law, Virginia

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

What does your lease say?  The lease is the agreement that you made and if these charges are not part of the lease then do not pay them. If you have no lease then it will be a fight as to the agreement.  If you are going to fight the eviction if he attempts to do so then start getting your evidence in order.  If you paid the rent but there is no evidence of you owing these additional fees then how can he evict?  But you may want to consider finding another place or entering in to a written lease.  Good luck.


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