A dispute arose between two lessees, leasing an apartment divided to several residential units, with regard to unpaid electricity and water charges. The apartment was registered with the authorities under one tenant’s name, because the apartment is registered as a one residential unit, while the arrangement between the two lessees was that settling of accounts is done through private and secondary counters that were installed. However, the lessee who claimed to be owed funds refused to present the original payments demands to the other.
The Court held that a landlord cannot impose on one lessee to be used as a collector for electricity and waters debts of another lessee. The Court rejected the lessee’s claim for water and electricity unpaid bills by the other lessee, stating that when the original charge of water and electricity bills are not displayed, one is entitled to refuse to pay, as such is denied the ability to review the details of the debts.