Cap. 604 Art. 17Water and electricity services.    S.L. 545.01. S.L. 545.03.      Cap. 16.

(1) The lessor is bound to ensure an adequate supply of water and electricity whenever a tenement, or any part thereof, is leased for a residential purpose:

Provided that this article shall be without prejudice to the supplier’s rights to suspend the supply of water and electricity under the Electricity Supply Regulations and Water Supply Regulations, in the case of non-payment of an account or where such powers are specifically reserved to the Chairman of the electrical distribution system operator or the Water Services Corporation as the case may be.

(2) The lessor is bound to acknowledge the number of persons residing in the tenement for the purpose of calculating the correct tariff applicable for electricity and water supply, and to grant the lessee access to the account details relative to the leased tenement:

Provided that the lessor’s obligations under this sub-article shall be without prejudice to the lessee’s possibility of applying for his temporary recognition as a consumer by the service provider and to assume responsibility for the payment of bills relative to the leased tenement, in his own name.

(3) Any additional amounts incurred by the lessee as a result of the lessor’s default to maintain his obligations stipulated in sub-article (2) shall be recoverable by the lessee:

Provided that the lessee may retain part of the rent due for the purpose of reimbursement of such expenses.

(4) The lessee shall ensure that no arrears for water and electricity services are pending with respect to the period of the lease: Provided that the non-payment of water and electricity bills during any period of the lease shall be considered as a partial default and it shall entitle the lessor to demand the dissolution of the contract in accordance with article 1570 of the Civil Code:

Provided further that the tenant shall not be bound to pay the utility services until he is provided with a copy of the bill, unless he would have direct access thereto.