Paying for others to use our gas

[Ridddle]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
I am set to move on Thursday to a new place, an apartment with 4 units. During walk thru I was shown the basement which had 3 washers and a dryer and told it was for tenant use. Today I get a call from the owner (who I hadn't dealt with, all dealings were thru my realtor calling her realtor then her realtor called her) directly telling me that the gas dryer is on my grid so I will have to go to the other 3 units to ask for money every month for my gas bill and that I can only use 1 washing machine and I have to share it with the people next door so go make a schedule who will use it when (the other 2 tenants each get one washer themselves). This didn't seem right or fair to me. I have to track people down for money who can deny they used the dryer and cause bad blood and on top of that the 2 other tenants can have their own washers that I can't use but they can use my dryer/gas.

Okay so what would you do in this situation? I gave notice and as far as I know this place is now rented so I can't stay here.

 

[FarmerJ]

Dying to know this detail here, HOW many electric meters are there for this 4plex ? AND how many outlet sets are there in the laundry room ? Does the 4plex have a registration card that list all 4 units from a city or county govt license unit ? ( your county govt center property tax desk can tell you how many units are recorded there) LAST have you signed a lease yet ? If you have not I would suggest you seriously think about living somewhere else!

 

[Ridddle]

Hi,
There are 5 (or so I was told) one for each unit and then 1 that the landlord is supposed to be billed for for the outside and hallway lights. I dont know about registration card thing, I don't live in that state yet so not sure where to go to find that out. I did sign the lease unaware of the dryer setup.

 

[Cvillecpm]

Ask landlord to get last 24 mos useage of the gas or elec for washers from utilities and REDUCE your rent for the overage of the other units....get a rent reduction and don't mess with collecting $$$ from others.

 

[Andy0192]

If your written lease is silent on the issue, ask the landlord to remove the laundry facilities from YOUR meter, as you never agreed to such an arrangement.

If the landlord fails to respond to your written request in a timely manner, notify the gas company that you have discovered others tapped in to your gas line past your meter & request them to investigate. Make sure to copy the Landlord.

 

[Ridddle]

Thanks Guys!!! I called the gas company and found out the average bill for that apt (because of the dryer) is $150 even in summer. I find that excessive for a med size 4 room apt. I asked (and they answered) about the other units and they pay about $85.00 a month so I gave landlord 2 options. 1 pay the difference of the gas bill 2. disconnect the dryer until it can go on another meter. Landlord is trying to do option 2 before I move in Thursday but will do option 1 until it can be moved (I mentioned the lease makes no mention of this so I never agreed to it). Thank you guys. I wouldn't have known how to approach this without you all.

 

[FarmerJ]

DO count the electric meters when you move in, Im curious , is this one of them late 60s early 60s 4plexes where each unit has its own heat source & hot water heaters ? I find the amount the gas co told you to be very very high, see I used to owner occupy one unit in a 4 unit building and I had 2 coin operated dryers and one coin operated clothes washer in basement, the washer got its hot water off my hot water tank and the two gas dryers off my gas meter and in summer months gas for laundry and cooking and my own hot water needs used to run about 40 or so , SO Im wondering just whose hot water the washers are drawing from? Take note of how many hot water heaters there are too!

 

[Ridddle]

FarmerJ... I will count them now, thanks. I dont know the age of the building. I "assumed" (yeah I know what assumes stands for so I don't usually do it) that the washers are on the meters of the apts they are asigned too and that is why I am only allowed to use the one washer. Not sure if it matters but they are not coin operated. Landlord only metioned the dryer on my meter and claims certain lights are on a seperate one she pays for so I will check. I don't pay for my own hot water though only heat, cooking gas, and electric.
I used to rent a place where the heating bills for the winter were $400+ because the place was old and not energy efficent at all (windows didn't close, doors had huge gaps, etc.) and it was also a 6 room apt so when this gas co quoted me $85.00 it didn't seem too high. I would LOVE a $40 even $50 gas bill