Who should pay the electricity bill?

Questioner

I privately rent a house above a supermarket. I have a bicycle shed under my house, which I share with my neighbor. Since June 2023, I suddenly have a high energy bill, from 40 to 327 euros per month. This for almost 5 months. Now I have discovered that my landlord has a small heater in this shed to prevent the pipes from freezing in the winter. This heater has been on full power for almost 5 months and now it turns out that the plug is in my meter cupboard. Whether the heater went haywire or whether my neighbor accidentally bumped her shoulder against it (her stuff is underneath), I don't know. I have already paid .1000 euros more than last year/ Who should foot the bill for this now? It's strange that I pay for the electricity for her heater without knowing it.

Lawyer

Under Dutch law, a landlord must provide a decent home, which means that the home must meet certain minimum requirements. In your case, it could come down to whether it is reasonable for you as a tenant to pay for the costs of heating the bike shed. If it is not included in your lease that you are responsible for these costs, it may be that the costs you have incurred should not be your responsibility. The costs of gas, water and electricity (\'Utilities\') are normally borne by the tenant, unless otherwise agreed in the lease. However, if the heater has been connected to your connection without your knowledge and without your permission, you could argue that these costs should not be borne by you. In this situation, it is advisable to at least consult your lease agreement and see exactly what has been agreed upon regarding the division of the costs of the utilities. If the agreement does not mention this or if you are not sure how to interpret the agreement, you should seek legal advice from a lawyer or specialized attorney. In addition, you could also talk to your landlord to find a solution. You may be able to come to an arrangement together in which the costs are compensated. In any case, it is important that you make the problem known to your landlord and know your rights as a tenant. It is important to remember that this advice is for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Do not hesitate to seek further professional help if you have any questions. -------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to review the above answer so that we can learn from it.