Billing multiple tenants off one utility bill questions

[Austin Mudd]

I have seen multiple landlords in my area (State: PA) list rentals where the landlord is requiring tenants to pay some utilities or a portion of (pay gas, electric, no water). My friend is about thinking of signing a lease for an apartment that is one of two in a cut-up single family home. I assume the landlord will have in his lease that the tenant will be responsible for paying utilities. I saw the bill that the LL sent to my friend and the LL is receiving only one bill to charge both tenants.

I am also looking at a property where it's currently set up as a duplex and the water and gas is not split. I budgeted installing two boilers, as it would take only 1.5 years to recoup the costs between needing to get a higher, less achievable rent to include the gas cost, vs just paying for a second new boiler now. Plus, i'd rather be on the legal side.

What are the legalities surrounding charging tenants utilities if the LL has no way of accurately determining what each tenant consumed? If the tenant signs a lease that they will be responsible for utilities, if the tenant signs and refuses to pay rent because of the lack of utility splitting, can the LL evict? I assume the LL could try and would end up in trouble himself for billing a tenant inaccurately. There's no apartments available where my friend is looking, so I was suggesting she signs so she has a place to live and if the utility payment becomes out of whack, she could refuse to pay because A) Utilities are not split & B) Property is an illegal duplex since it's zoned SFR.

Anyone have more insight?