Posted by Rich-CA on January 03, 2009 at 19:56:10:
is in areas where the utility has the right to lien the service address for unpaid bills. I believe AZ is one place where they can do this. So it really depends on what the owner’s risk is. When the CO utility I deal with told me they can’t lien a property, I was happy. BUT they will pull the meter which costs the next guy to have it put back.
Am I Responsible for Tenants’ Unpaid Utilities? - Posted by Eric Wood
Posted by Eric Wood on January 03, 2009 at 10:27:43:
Hello…
My wife and I had tenants for 18 months who just vacated (and gave sufficient notice), but when we went to check the house, we noticed the electric service was shut off. All utilities were in their name with the utility companies. Then we saw, in the mailbox, unpaid utility bills. Apparently they left them unpaid, thinking that their security deposit would be used to pay them. Am I responsible to pay them since the utilities were provided to my house… or is it the tenants’ responsibility? I don’t think they gave the util companies their new (out-of-state) address. What should we do? Simply pay and deduct from their security?
Thank you!
Re: Am I Responsible - Posted by Mark (SDCA)
Posted by Mark (SDCA) on January 03, 2009 at 15:41:55:
The answer is probably not. My last tenant left owing the city for a water bill.
The loser customer disservice rep refused to put the serviuce in my name unless I paid the bill. I asked to speak to her supervisor and it got setlled. (I hope my previous tenants are enjoying the collections calls.)
Moral: Be persistent. You did not co-sign for the bill so why should it be your responsibility?
You are not responsible for their bills - Posted by Rich-CA
Posted by Rich-CA on January 03, 2009 at 13:15:52:
You need to call the utility companies and change the service to your name. If you have a forwarding address for the tenants, provide it. Do NOT pay the bills from the deposit, this is for damages to you property. UNLESS you are in a state where the utility company can lien the property for unpaid utility bills, in which case you will need to pay the bills to keep the liens off your property.