In order to answer your question concerning utility charges for your unit, you need to carely re-read your presumed written lease in that its terms and conditions control the obligations owed to you by the landlord and vice versa in the absence of conflicting state law.If the written lease does not state that you are obligated for the utilities at the rental that you have, then due to any mention of it the landlord is responsible for such fees. If your former landlord never charged you for utility fees, then I have a hard time for the new owner to charge you for such fees when he or she never owned the property.From what you have written, you owe no utility fees on a retroactive basis. If the new landlord pushes you on this issue, you might want to consult with a landlord tenant attorney.