Is my property manager not following my lease or did I misunderstand it?
I started renting a small commercial space 6 months ago. When I signed the lease the building was owned by a different landlord and was about to be sold. I was told that management would have me sign the new lease with the current landlord's name. It's been months and they haven't had me sign anything.

The building has multiple commercial units and apartments. I signed a NNN lease with a base year adjustment for expense reimbursements of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, CAM expenses, and trash. When I went over the lease with my attorney, I understood that expense reimbursements meant anything checked off on the list would need to be paid additionally to the landlord after the base year. Everything else that wasn't checked off would be paid to the service provider by me. The items not checked off were electricity, internet, phone, water/sewer. My attorney and I both took this as meaning everything was individually metered. Management had me put electricity in my name right away and said I would start paying water/sewer, etc. after a few months.

Over the last couple of months, management started adding charges to the payment portal with very vague descriptions. For example, one was labeled "water bill" for around $100 (which doesn't sound right with me being the only employee in my space). The next month, they charged the same amount and labeled it "City utilities." With all the inconsistencies, I asked management for a copy of the original bills. He gave me the run around and then told me they're in a master account and he doesn't share those. However, I found a part of my lease that states I'm allowed to examine records that deal with bills. I assume that lease is null and void now, but I don't know what else to go by.

After being charged this way, it's making me second guess what my attorney and I went over in the lease. Did I misunderstand what the lease said? Or is my property manager in the wrong here?

These are also not the only issues I've had with management. At times, he's been really unprofessional and dishonest. Should I contact the landlord to let him know what's going on? And if I do, is it possible to ask him to keep my name out of it? The property manager is shady and I'm afraid he'd retaliate somehow.
[{"id": "iikbhhw", "text": "\"He gave me the run around and then told me they're in a master account and he doesn't share those.\"\n\n*Why that is so incredible!!! That is the exact same place where I keep my cash! And, without proof of expenditure as my lease mandates, I can't share my cash with you.  Please refund \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_, \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ and \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ forthwith.*\n\nThe property manager works for the landlord.\n\nIf he's shady....so is the landlord.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iike7aa", "text": "if you signed a NNN lease typically you would pay prorated share based on SF for unmetered utils.  That said the LL should be sending a reconciliation type statement typically that outlines what the year charges were vs the estimated expenses and give you copies of bills for your verification.\n\nNo one but you and your attorney knows exactly what your lease said so this is general advice obviously.  \n\nIf someone told me to pay a bill they couldn't give me a copy of I'd have a good laugh and just reply \"our corporate policies require documentation or bills be attached before a check can be cut, please provide the associated bill and calculation used to determine our portion and we'll be glad to get you paid!\" then I'd move on with my life.", "replies": [{"id": "iiku6iu", "text": "There's a note added into my lease to clarify utility payments. It says the tenant is supposed to pay electric, water, sewer, and internet directly to the service providers. I'm paying electric that way, but nothing else. That's why I'm confused. Wouldn't that mean the landlord is supposed to stay out of it and I would pay those directly on my own?", "replies": [{"id": "iilrra3", "text": "The water bill is probably pretty cheap like $40 and PM is picketing the rest as a processing fee.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iikmyxh", "text": "Without reading your lease no one can give you an accurate answer. You should pay a certain amount for NNN and cams. It sounds like the management company is fairly diligent on charging you for certain increases or expenses. Typically the tenant has the right to ask for proof of expenses. I\u2019m surprised that you did not get hit with an increase in NNN when the property sold.Depending on the state, this can increase the NNN dramatically. Just ask for a reconciliation, they should be able to provide it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iilhx96", "text": "The buyer \"inherited\" the lease you signed, so there is no lease for you to sign...although, many times, a new buyer may ask you to sign an estoppel certificate verifying the \"terms\" of your lease. \n\nMany times, NNN leases don't have a \"Base\" year. Your pass through's are your pass through's unless you negotiated a \"min/max\" in the lease and which NNN you are responsible for in the lease. \n\nSounds like you need to request a review of these bills you are paying for....\n\nAs mentioned previously, without seeing the lease we are in the dark. Call your attorney and have a discussion with them about your concerns and get recommendations on how you should proceed.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]