Law Q: Who pays your water bill? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Law Q: Who pays your water bill?

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Started 1 year ago by sugarplumclarey
Latest reply from anillo

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sugarplumclarey

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I was under the impression that in Columbus, the landlord couldn't legally bill the tenant for water use. Is that true? I'd once found some literature on the matter but I can't seem to locate anything online anymore.

(Promised my neighbor I'd look into this for her since her landlord has been billing her for water for years, then suddenly stopped. She's meeting with him tomorrow to discuss the issue and asked me to find as much info as possible for her. If you have any links, advice, experience, etc. - please share! Thanks!)

Posted 1 year ago #
DCist
UA
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It IS legal for a landlord to bill the tenant for the water rather than have the water put in the tenants name to manage. However, the tenant IS entitled to see the bills and if it doesnt get paid and the tenants water is turned off because of this, the landlord is responsible and legal action can be taken. I would suggest contacting the Legal Aid Society, they put out great literature on housing rights.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
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Depends on what is in the Lease. I bill my tenants.

Posted 1 year ago #
sugarplumclarey

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I see. So if the bill is in the landlord's name, s/he can bill the tenants in order to reimburse herself for the expense?

Posted 1 year ago #
Moz
Short North
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Depends on what is in the lease. Our landlord has the water for all of his properties in his name. On a quarterly basis, he gives us copies of the bills along with how he allocates our share, which we include with the next subsequent payment.

Posted 1 year ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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The landlord can absolutely pass the water bill on to the tenant unless her lease states otherwise. The best thing you can do is look at her lease. Water bills in Columbus are billed quarterly and overall, pretty cheap for residential usage.

Posted 1 year ago #
sugarplumclarey

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Thank you so much everyone. I knew I could count on CU for this info :)

Posted 1 year ago #
joshlapp
SoHud
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I have a question related to water bills and this looked like the closest thread... When exactly do Columbus water bills come? It it monthly or on a quarterly basis?

Posted 1 year ago #
sixby9is42

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Columbus bills on a quarterly basis.

Posted 1 year ago #
anillo
Marzipan City
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So if you get overbilled for your water, is there anything you can do about that? Or would you have to see the lease to be sure? (ie, if you're in a 3br place and get charged 20 bucks per person per month for water, and you ask to see the bills and it turns out you're not using 60 dollars of water a month, can you ask for your money back?)

Posted 1 year ago #