Landlord won't show water bills - charges keep going up

Disclaimer: The question below was submitted by a reader. Names have been anonymized. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Individual circumstances vary, and readers should contact their service provider directly or consult a qualified professional for advice specific to their situation.

Kasia, California June 15, 2023

We are struggling with the landlord providing any disclosure about the water bill. The building has 8 units only and the monthly bill goes as much as 130 dollars per unit on average. They claim The water bill was divided by 7 units ( one empty), but once the new tenant moved in,the bill is even higher instead going lower. What can we do? The rent is already a killer for a cookie cutter unit and the utilities are keep going up.

ConnectCalifornia followed up with Kasia requesting more information

ConnectCalifornia Expert June 15, 2023

Hi Kasia, $130 per unit is definitely on the high end for water. To help figure out what's going on, can you tell me: have you asked for copies of the actual water bills from the utility company? And when you say the bill went up after the new tenant moved in, by roughly how much? Also, how long has the landlord been refusing to show you documentation?

Kasia, California June 16, 2023

We've asked multiple times and they just say 'the bill is what it is.' The new tenant moved in 2 months ago and my share went from $130 to $145. With 8 units now occupied it should have gone down not up! They've never shown us an actual water company bill in the 3 years I've lived here. Just their own invoice.

ConnectCalifornia Expert June 17, 2023

Something’s off here. Basic math says that adding one more tenant to split the bill should make each share smaller, not bigger. The fact that the opposite happened is worth investigating.

$130 per unit in an 8-unit building means roughly $1,000/month total water. That’s high for most California buildings - not impossible, but unusual enough that I’d want to see the actual bills.

Here’s what I’d do: send an email (so you have a paper trail) asking for copies of the actual water company bills for the past several months. You’re not being difficult - you’re just trying to understand what you’re paying for. If the landlord refuses or keeps dodging the question, that tells you something.

You can also call the water utility directly. Most California water companies will give you historical billing info for the address. It’s a quick way to verify whether the numbers your landlord is giving you match what the water company actually charged.

If you hit a wall and still suspect you’re being overcharged, your local housing authority handles these complaints. The landlord’s allowed to add a small admin fee, but they can’t turn the water bill into a profit center.

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