Private Multiple Residential Dwelling/Gas Meters

[MomX2]

We recently moved into a two family private home in Nassau County. The landlord is requiring (and added a hand-written clause to this in the lease) us to pay half of the monthly gas bill (heat) from a "shared meter" (the bill and account are in the landlord's name). Firstly, the other tenant demands 70 degrees but then opens her windows. We (me, my husband, 6 yr son and 1 yr daughter) are living miserably as our apartment gets so hot we can barely breath and have to walk around half dressed. Secondly, the landlord is not providing full copies of the bill and sends statements with the additional amount we need to pay with the following months rent. We would prefer to negotiate a set monthly amount to pay as we are getting killied with the high costs of heating and mostly at the other tenant's cause. Is what the landlord has required of us legal? Can we request a separate meter be installed or other?

[cestmoi123]

If the apartment has a shared meter, the landlord must pay all the bills. A landlord can only have a tenant pay utilities if those utilities are metered for that tenant's space only. Bottom line, unless the landlord gets you your own meter, he can't collect any utility payments from you.

http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSS ... TA=$$PBS52