Apartment complex/rent included water, heat, and garbage..Now charging for these utilities without knowledge?

I received a letter in early Dec stating when renewing lease you would be asked to sign an agreeance to pay WATER. The 1st week of Feb I receive a bill from a company for the past two months which include energy, trash, water, and sewer. I went to the office and was told that this is allowed and that the letter I received in early Dec was disregarded. Another letter had been sent out, I never received this second letter! How does this company know how much water my family is using, without seperate water meters, and nothing in the letter was said about energy or trash. My frustration is I never received proper knowledge of this happening. How can they charge me for the whole month of Dec let alone at all when I am not in agreeance and didnt sign anything over and beyond my lease? For 5 months this place has been paying these utilities, now I have to pay for them, and they tell me this is not a change in my lease! Is this right???

My experience as a Land lord for 20 years is the same as the posted above. Good answer.. The land lord may lower the rent, and charges mid term, but not raise them without the tenants permission. Not responding, I don't think is giving permission.

You might check to see what the cost is compared with surrounding properties.

Once put a centeral air unit into a tenants place, where she formerly had window unit, She agreed to pay an extra $25 a month from date of install. After the install she refused to pay the higher rate till her lease renewed in August. 3 months. When the lease term ended, I refused to rent to her any longer.,,, Told her I did not want her kind with me any longer.

They can't charge you during the term of your former lease. IT seems upon renewal you agreed to pay water. It is very common that the water bill includes sewer and garbage and water costs all in one bill, but it is called the water bill. Normall you aren't charged for water without a separate meter, but it can be charged based on # of people, if your lease notes it. It is a change in your lease and they can only change terms of a lease upon renewal, not in the middle.