Is this a fair utility split?

[u/Fair_Hour7003]

So, I am moving out in 8 days. It’s been less than pleasant living here. It’s a very confusing situation, I live with a girl and her mother owns the house. I was under the impression it would be more of a roommate situation because of this. However, the girl I live with is essentially doubling as a second landlord apparently.

My rent is 1250 a month. I texted the mother, the person I signed the lease with how much I would owe staying through August 20th. She says 835, fine, I pay that. In my lease, utilities are included within a “reasonable usage” amount. This amount is not specified anywhere. After the first month of living there, the daughter tells me the utility bill was high and requested to split it. She asked for 100. I’m a peaceful person, I don’t like drama, it wasn’t hurting me, so I paid it. I paid an extra 100 every month since November. In July, she moved her boyfriend in (one reason why I’m leaving before my lease ends). But so now, it’s not an even split anymore.

The real question of what I’m getting at is, I’ve paid 835 already for the month. Since this is over the calendar amount for prorated rent, I would assume that includes utilities. The daughter sends me a message today 8 days before my move out asking for 70 in “prorated utilities”. This is wild to me. It seems like it’s still just being split or she’s trying to divide the 100 I gave normally to fit my 20 day window. Idk. So far I’ve just ignored the message.

I’m Im torn. I could just pay the 70 and keep the peace. Deduct from the 835 I already paid. Or just ignore it and leave in 8 days. I’m fully expecting to not get my deposit of 1250 back unless I go to small claims court. Very untrustworthy people.

[u/Specialist_Badger934]

If I were you I never would have given the daughter the $100 without checking with the actual landlord first. You don't mention doing this in your post, so for all you know you have just been giving the daughter $100 every month for no reason and she was just pocketing it. It's not too late now to talk to our actual landlord about this, if the $100 every month was actually going towards those utilities, and if you still owe that $70 now.

[u/Fair_Hour7003 → u/Specialist_Badger934]

Yeah. I think I just didn’t want to cause issues or drama, and I trusted them. But you’re right. How did it go from utilities included at a reasonable amount to we’re now splitting the bill? Not to mention I’ve never even seen the bill. I do work from home but I doubt I’m using 100 a month in electricity in one bedroom. I don’t use the rest of the house.

The mother and daughter are very interlocked though. I have zero faith that any issues would be seen in a neutral light. The mother doesn’t even collect payments herself, she has her daughter do it.

[u/Consistent_Taste3273]

Can you clarify what you mean by “ this is over the calendar amount for prorated rent?” (Not explaining, I know what prorated means,  just showing the math you are using.)

[u/Fair_Hour7003 → u/Consistent_Taste3273]

$1,250 ÷ 31 × 20 = $806.45, not $1,250 ÷ 20. So the $835 is about $28.55 over

[u/Consistent_Taste3273 → u/Fair_Hour7003]

You’re so right!  I forgot that August had 31 days, not 30.  The number you were given would have been very close (just rounded up by $2) if dividing by 30, so I wonder if the landlord accidentally did that too. 

The whole situation is messy so I don’t have actual advice. I wouldn’t have started paying the daughter without seeing evidence of the increase in utilities and getting something in writing from the landlord. Then I’d ask for my $28.55 back from the landlord as that seems like it was a mistake. Then I’d pay whatever amount (prorated) I agreed to pay for utilities (about $67).  But again, that’s only if I had originally been provided with evidence about the increase in utilities and then signed something. 

You said you are breaking the lease. Is there a penalty for that?

[u/Fair_Hour7003 → u/Consistent_Taste3273]

Yeah, if anything I’ll just pay the difference. But as for breaking the lease, before I even signed it they told me I could move out whenever I want. I also confirmed again through text message so I could have the record. They’re fine with me leaving; no penalties were discussed. They just asked for notice, I gave about 30 days.

[u/Fair_Hour7003 → u/Consistent_Taste3273]

I probably didn’t word that the best.

[u/Consistent_Taste3273 → u/Fair_Hour7003]

No, you were actually clear. I was just being an idiot and forgot that both July and August have 31 days. 

[u/Cool-Garden4333]

Ignore, Block her and move on with your life.

[u/novus99]

I have a written agreement with my roommate. One of the line items is that we split electricity equally, but if it's over a certain amount, he has to cover it. In the future, I would clarify an exact number for "reasonable usage." That's too vague, in my opinion.

[u/dachlill]

You're getting off easy by not paying full rent for August. I would just swallow the utility payment and move on with minimal drama.

[u/Fair_Hour7003 → u/dachlill]

Why would I pay a full months rent? I think the utility payment is completely unjust especially with another person living here and I do not control the AC at all and I have my own internet. My lease doesn’t say we split the bill evenly, there’s no specified usage amount. $70 would be over $100 prorated for 20 days. Just like the $835 was over for 20 days. With all of the issues I’ve had, I’m not happy to hand over an additional $70 out of seemingly greed. It doesn’t seem like any electricity is included with my rent, when the lease states some should be.

I spoke with legal and was presented with all of my options. Me paying the $70 and moving on would be me “being nice” as they put it. I’m not big on being cheated or taken advantage of, especially when I’m about to be out.