Hi everyone, I signed a lease with my fiance several weeks ago for the lower in a duplex. When we signed, we were told that there was a washer and dryer in a shared basement for the tenants of the upper to use, and the landlord told us they cover water. I asked whose electric the washer and dryer was on and she said she'd check, didn't know. Later she said it was on ours but was factored into the rent. Huh.

When I called to get an average of utilities from the energy company (WE Energies - Wisconsin) I found out that the average heat/ electric for the lower was double that of the upper - the lower had an older woman, the upper a family. This seemed odd, but not impossible, though it gave me cause to check out the wiring of this home converted to duplex.

I traced everything out, and it's about as screwed up as I've ever seen. There is one hot water heater, on the 1st floor furnace, the 2nd floor furnace is on the 1st floor electric, as well as the second floor electric range and fridge. The well pump is on our electric as well as the water heater, water softener, and garage. I met the landlord to walk her through my findings (we don't move in for 9 days) and she got defensive, telling me that was the way it is and that it was factored into the rent.

Now I've never heard of having to surprise pay for a another tenant's utilities. She also told me they have no intention of rewiring/ adding a second water heater and my options were to deal with it or get out of the lease.

I opted to get out, but I'd like a bit of help from you knowledgeable folk in the legality of this and just what kind of leg I have to stand on if there ends up being any issue getting my security deposit back. Thanks for reading.