We gave our tenants a 5 dya pay rent or move out notice. They did not pay rent and did not move out although they told us they were but took the utilities out of their name and put them in our and still remain in the house. Since they are in our name can we turn them off --71.13.xx.xxx

No...and you need to/should have filed for eviction as soon as the pay/quit notice legally expired. Perhaps when you go for the money judgment part you can ask for allowance for utility or more likely just deduct from SD when you do the accounting after they are finally really evicted by the courts. --207.200.xxx.x

I would have a talk with the utilities company to inquire WHO authorized THEM to start a NEW account in YOUR NAME? If you can have THEM carry out A "billing and service correction" THEY can be the bad guys who correct their own mistake, and terminate service as requested by tenant! --71.196.xx.xxx

my leases outline who's responsible for what & if i haven't allowed this to occur month over month.....then 'there'll be no light'... --75.181.xxx.xxx

Sounds like fraud or petty theft on the tenants part. Wouldn't hurt to also call the local PD and if they won't do anything call the local D.A.'s office. The PD won't remove the tenant but putting the utilities in your name should constitute a misdemeanor. --72.25.xx.xxx

This is an all too common occurance with deadbeats. The utility companies just go along. When our deadbeat got evicted, he never changed them out of his name, so while we cleaned and ran power tools to repair, we left it in his name for one month, then we thought better change them or we might get cut off for non payment <: --70.24.xx.xxx

Then find out if your health department will declare the property unfit. This will save you the cost and time of an eviction (but you will have to have reinspected before it can be occupied again). --64.151.xx.xxx

Wouldn't that be criminal impersonation. --71.235.xxx.xx

The tenants can simply say they are leaving and it would go directly into my name even if they were not gone. --76.99.xxx.xx

If you have a "no seal" agreement with the utilities so that utilities auto revert to your name, you need to STOP that and make a note to call a few days BEFORE a move out and put them in your name....take them out of your name first thing Monday morning and cancel any auto-revert agreement with them. --205.188.xxx.xxx

Doesn't solve your problem today, but I'm with Ally. I NEVER sign anything that allows the utility company to put the service in my name~! --24.29.xxx.xxx

Reading this, I am SO glad I never gave our power company the signed permission to turn the power into my name. I too got the letter in the mail. --72.81.xx.xxx

I asked the question of an attorney in the family. The eviction is a civil matter but by putting the utilities in your name without your express consent and for their exclusive benefit this has become a criminal matter. --72.25.xx.xxx

And as an added bonus to your eviction, report them to the local D.A. Chances are they won't do much, but it's worth a shot. --76.252.xx.xxx