Rather than pay a nearly $2,000 water-related charge she claimed is unjustified, a Glenmora, Louisiana, renter said she is ready to take the Rapides Parish Housing Authority to court over its claim that her brother's car washing at the complex drove up usage.
Here's what to know
Era Simmons, who lives at Boykin Heights Apartments in Glenmora, told KALB that the Rapides Parish Housing Authority said water use had been unusually high for several months and blamed the increase on her brother washing cars. According to the agency, she now owes about $2,000.
Instead of demanding the full amount at once, the housing authority plans to add $100 per month until the balance is covered, a charge Simmons said she rejects.
"I'm not paying this," she told the station.
KALB reported that the letter did not explain how the housing authority calculated the amount or measured water use, leaving Simmons to dispute the total and why it was assigned to her.
The housing authority had not answered questions about the bill — including what process Simmons could use to contest it.
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"I don't know what she thinks. I really don't," Simmons said.
More background
For Simmons, the dispute is not just about the dollar amount. She said the housing authority has not shown why one apartment should be blamed for the higher water use.
"What she's doing here is wrong. This, she can't just bring me out and say I did this; I made the water go up. No, she, I mean, if she could say here, I'm going to prove to you, you're the reason. One apartment. No, I'm not paying this," Simmons said.
In shared housing arrangements such as apartment complexes, residents may have little insight into how overall utility use is monitored or divided. In Simmons' case, the allegation covers water use over several months, rather than a single event.
An added $100 monthly charge on top of rent and other bills can quickly strain a household budget.
What can be done?
Simmons said the matter will go to court if the housing authority tries to enforce the charge.
"Well, what happens if I don't pay this? We're going to court. Oh yes, we're definitely going. I said, Well, fine. I see you in court, and I mean that. I'm not paying this. You know, I'm not going to do that. That's not right," she told KALB.
Because the letter gives no details on how the amount was calculated or how the water use was tracked, any formal dispute will likely center on those missing explanations and on whether the charge can be tied to Simmons in a verifiable way.
As of KALB's report, the Rapides Parish Housing Authority had not replied to requests for more information about the charge or about how Simmons could challenge it.
Where can I learn more?
Similar disputes over unexplained water charges have surfaced in other rentals. In these articles, tenants push back after being blamed for steep bills tied to hoses, leaks, irrigation, and lawn watering.
• A renter pushed back after an inexplicably high water bill was tied to hose use.
• A tenant demanded answers after an astronomical water bill was blamed on a leak.
• Another renter refused to accept a monstrous water bill sent without explanation.
• One landlord's irrigation demands left a tenant stuck with an absurd water bill.
• A renter was told to keep the yard green despite high water bills.
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