Does shared furnace necessitate rent discount?

[Alecia Loveless]

Hi. I recently bought a duplex and the two sides share a furnace. I live in the side without the furnace which provides both heat and hot water. The two units are separately metered for electricity.

Currently the other side is being renovated and should be rented shortly, the tenant is ready to move in at any time.

My question is this. The cost for the electricity to run the furnace, it is an oil furnace, but electricity kicks it on, and to supply the hot water to my side of the duplex is $15 a month during the winter and about $5 a month when the heat doesn’t run. Should I offer my tenant a discount on his rent to offset my costs, or even worse, pay the tenant’s electricity?

Thanks!

Alecia