Landlords and billing tenants in CT

[Jon Sanborn]

Hey BP!

To keep a long story short, I’m currently a renter in Connecticut, (looking to invest in buy and hold properties soon) and have a question regarding landlords and how they bill tenants.

Background: I currently live in a duplex with only one gas meter. So, my landlord has it set up where I pay a third, the other unit pays a third, and he pays a third of the gas bill, which is under my landlord’s name. The lease states this, and I am ok with this.

About 6 months after moving in and not receiving a gas bill from my landlord, he shows up one day and hands me a $300 gas bill from the last 6 months. I pay the $300 in full.

Current: That was back in November, it’s now June and I have not received a gas bill from him the past 6 months, however, I know he’ll do the same thing and give it to me all at once again.

Question: I’m not looking for a month to month solution (I know I could just request a bill from him every month to solve the problem), but what I am asking is...Is this legal/ok for him to give me a huge bill all at once from previous months? (December-Now) Or are there any rules stating that landlords must bill their tenants by a certain date?

I am by no means a ‘professional tenant’ I am just curious on the matter.

Thanks in advance! 

-Jon