If I have a water main leak at the house I RENT am I responsible for the additional increase in my water bill?
Answers:
Hello, first it is not a "city water main line" that was leaking. if it was the city line that was leaking, you shutting off your meter would not have stoped the water from comming out. You can't shut off the city side of the water.
So the water is on your side of the meter, so all the water that came out went though your meter and will be on your bill.
Now since it was the house owners property and his pipes that broke, It is possible that you can negotiage the bill with him.
also read your lease and see what it says about his or your responsiblity with a faluty utility issue.
But yep on the next bill it will be much larger, the city or water company will expect you to pay it, unless you work out a deal with the landlord.
Other answers:
I would contact the water dept. in your city and see about sending them the bill, or having them pay the difference between last month's bill (when the main was fine) and this month's bill (when the main was leaking).
I would contact the water dept. in your city and see about sending them the bill, or having them pay the difference between last month's bill (when the main was fine) and this month's bill (when the main was leaking).
Yes the city is only resposable from to the meter... as a matter of fact the meter is your responcablity.
Hard to say,, the landlord is certainly responsible for repairs and I would think since it was a leak you could not see, he would be responsible for any excess charges as well.
Sorry to hear that, but I had the same problem a few years ago and the city took care of it since it was underground and there was no way I could maintain and care for the pipes there...Good luck..
You are not responsible for maintaining the underground water pipes ...so argue with the water company that is responsible for the pipes that your bill should be discounted. The cost of the plumber is what I would worry about. Get out your lease and read it and ask your land lord who pays for the plumber. Call the water co. and just ask them. Also if anyone gives you the run around...call the renters advocate agency.
By 'financial issues', do you mean the extra cost of water or fixing the leak? If it was only leaking for a few days & wasn't bad enough for you to notice something was amiss, you probably won't see much of an increase in your water bill. Unless you caused the leak, you won't be responsible to pay for fixing it in most states. On the other hand, if there was a problem with the piping that you knew about that wasn't apparent outside the house, & you did nothing (intentionally, to cause damage to his property) to notify the landlord till damage was done, he may be able to make you pay for damages.
yes.However if it turns out it is your landlords responsibility for the line then ask him if he could help you by either taking the additional amt. off your rent or handing it over.but depending on the amount. if its just a little bit and you can handle it it probably wouldn't be worth stepping on toes.but if its a real significant increase in your bill and hes not willing to help then small claims would be the only other way.
You were not really specific as to which side of the meter the leak was. Shutoffs can be arranged to be on both sides of the meter, so it is hard to tell here where you r leak was. If it was on the street side of the meter then it would have no effect on your bill, which would only show a difference if the leak was on the house side of the meter. In either case, if the leak were in the basement then the basement should have been flooded if it were anything serious.
yes.. If the leak developed since you became a tenant then you are repsonsible for the bill. However, you have done a good thing by reporting the leak and doing what you can on your end to stop it. Mention it to the landlord when the bill comes, or you could even mention it now, along with the inconvenience of being without water for two days and just on kindness they may help you out, but really they are not required to do so.
you contact the city and tell them you had a serious leak and you will get the plumber to give you something in writting (or have them come out and verify the leak)now if the amount used is more than normal they will make an adjustment to your bill.It's not your landlords responsibility to pay it.As a matter of fact the landlord is not required by law to fix the leak either,unless it keeps you from getting water to the inside
take up the matter with your water supplier
Where is your water meter at? If the leak is between you and the meter, you are getting charged for the leak. If the meter is in your house and the leak is in the line coming to the house, your not getting charged.