Please Help

[zibbz]

Hello everyone. I am hoping someone can help me out with something. I am looking to move. The place that I like the most is really great but theres one thing that bothers me. There are currently tenants in the legal basement apartment, the landlord says that I must pay the rental amount as well as all of the utilities. I suspect the utilities are currently included in the other tenants rent though I havent asked.. I also suspect that the utilities are currently in the landlords name. Is it legal to have me pay the utilities... all of the utilities. Electric, water, fuel for hot water, gas for stove...etc. I could understand if there was noone in the basement apartment. But since there is someone ( a stranger that I havent even met yet) why should I pay for their utility use and is it legal for the landlord to ask this of me.
Location is NY.. Long Island.
Thankyou all who respond.

 

[ndragon]

Communicate with the landlord! Ask any questions you have. If it is a legal basement apartment, it should probably have seperate utilities. Just ask, it can't hurt.
The landlord can require you pay all utilities, that is not uncommon.

Good luck.

-Nick

 

[zibbz]

Talked to the landlord. Who says that the utilities for the other tenant is included in their rent. How can he include the utilities in their rent if the utilties are all in my name? This doesnt make sense to me at all. Why or rather how is it legal for him to have me pay someone elses utility uses.
Thanks.
Oh... they arent seperate utilities. Currently in the landlords name but he wants to transfer them into my name. honestly confused.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

You have gone outside the unit and checked that there is only one electric meter, gas meter, water meter, etc. on the outside of the building, correct?

Gail

 

[zibbz]

Yes its just one. But also the landlord has verified that (if I agree to the lease) I will be paying the utilities for the entire property. I think I will just keep looking as this situation sounds a bit fishy to me.
Thankyou for your replies. I will continue to look into the legalities of such issues as I am still planning to move and need to know what is legal of a landlord to ask me as the tenant to do.
Another question that comes to mind right now is about ugh... the cesspool, is the maintance for that on the tenant or the landlord?
Again thankyou.