Landlord forgets to pay the water bill.?

Something tells me he is having money problems. I would worry more if he is paying the mortgage, or property taxes, etc. You could see a foreclosure sign in your front door someday. When people don't pay bills on time, they are financially struggling. I've always paid my own water bill. Could it be a law just in your state only?

There is a reason you have a lease contract: so you will know the obligations and remedies for both parties. The extra fees you paid were your fault according to the contract. If you wanted to negotiate NSF and late payment fees, it must be done at the time you signed the contract. I am certain there was no clause that included the words " except when my clutch goes out at Christmas." There is no excuse for paying your rent late, and if it does not arrive on time, you should not complain or try to explain away your failure to live up to the contract. It does not make you a deadbeat or even a bad renter if life throws you some curves and you fall behind, but making excuses and making the landlord out as the bad guy for your failure and for enforcing the contract that you agreed to does. Man up. (Even if you are a girl.) I wrote all of that because you must understand there is a division between your actions and those of your landlord. Again, there is no excuse for violating the contract. Even if you are not paying rent, most legal contracts prohibit the landlord from stopping utility services they are responsible for. It cannot be used as leverage to force you to pay. Read your contract!!!!! Know your rights and responsibilities. If your landlord repeatedly violates the contract, he may very well be in default. But the contract surely stipulates a process for failure of the landlord to adhere to his contractural duties. I expect your main option is to move. You will not be able to get the landlord to pay you a fine or fee, but if you handle it right, you might be able to get out of the lease, get your deposit back and move before the lease actually expires. Now this is where you have to be careful. READ YOUR LEASE!!!!! If you handle this in a way that violates the lease, you will possibly be liable for paying rent payments even though you have moved. Breaking the lease legally will require you to have written evidence you have corresponded with the landlord about his failure to comply with the lease. You need to send a certified letter and keep the return receipt and copy of the letter next time you get a late notice for the water. If it gets cut off, send another even if you talk to the landlord verbally. Keep a written journal with all of your correspondence. If you ultimately find yourself in front of a judge, and if you have physical evidence you can hand to him, you will shellack your landlord and the judge will rip him a new one. If you just have excuses and accusations, you are the one who will get the lecture. Words mean next to nothing in court. When the judge asks "Where is your evidence?" what will you say? If you do not have a good answer for that yet, you have some work to do. Sorry to rail on you about making excuses, but you have to stop doing that if you want to prevail.

"Make" him pay??? I doubt you can make him do anything without taking him to court. Expect him to countersue for eviction since being late even once constitutes a breach of contract.

You sue him for rent for the days you had no water.

He is doing something shady by having the water bill in his name, this should be your responsibility. Contact the water company and explain the situation to them; they may be able to start an account for you. I realize this will be an extra expense, but at least you'll have water. Send a letter to your landlord stating that due to repeated failures of the landlord to pay the water bill, you have assumed the account and will be reducing your rent by that amount each month. Send it certified. It may not work and your landlord may fight it, but I'd give it a shot.