Is this legal?

Question

Not asking for legal advice, but I am asking for a little guidance...I'm paying the utilities in a house.  The tenants use the heat like CRAZY in this place....

Can I legally put a lockbox around the thermostat and set it at a fixed temp?  Has anybody else done this and experienced any goods/bads with it?

Josh Green · Answer

I think your going to have to suck it up for the next couple of months and then in March at renewal make sure that you have a cap that you will cover. crazy for you to have to pay....

Michael Rossi · Answer

My advice is to NEVER buy a property without separate metering unless you plan to separate the utilities (install individual metering).

Mike

Ana Hyler · Answer

At this point you will have to cover the utilities as they come but the good news is that March is almost around the corner. Start working on a better way to handle the utility issue and make sure you give your tenants suficient notice of the change you are putting in place.
Good luck !

Josh Green · Answer

how much would it cost to seperate the meters?

Michael Rossi · Answer

Of course, you need to know your local laws.  In many areas, there is a minimum temperature required in a rental.  In general, yes, you could put a lockbox around the thermostat and set it at a fixed temp.  Unfortunately, that won't do ANYTHING to fix your problem.  Tenants will just put ice packs on the lockbox, which will allow the heat to run 24/7.

The real answer here is that you made a HUGE mistake in paying for the utilities.  As you've found out, that's a recipe for disaster.

Mike

Ana Hyler · Answer

I agree with Mike...it is a recipe for disaster, but I'm really curious to know why are you paying for utilities? Is this a duplex without seperate meters?

Calvin N. · Answer

Not sure about the lockbox but I would certainly put a cap on the amount you will pay for utilities.  If it exceeds that amount, the tenant covers the difference.

Grand Wally · Answer

Yes, it's a duplex without 2 meters.  Bought the prop last month, the tenant's lease is up in March and I knew I would be responsible for the utilities.  However, the bills I reviewed were less than 1/2 of the most recent one.  His rent level was good enough to put up with the utility bills for a couple of months, but not at this high level......