 Utilities on land lord (by Scott [IL]) Apr 16, 2016 5:06 PM
 Utilities on land lord (by Sparky [PA]) Apr 16, 2016 5:20 PM
Utilities on land lord (by JR [ME]) Apr 16, 2016 5:25 PM
Utilities on land lord (by Gail [MO]) Apr 16, 2016 5:40 PM
Utilities on land lord (by Robert J [CA]) Apr 16, 2016 5:40 PM
Utilities on land lord (by Scott [IL]) Apr 16, 2016 6:22 PM
Utilities on land lord (by Robert,Ontario,Can [ON]) Apr 17, 2016 4:31 AM
Utilities on land lord (by Kyle [IN]) Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM
Utilities on land lord (by cjl [NY]) Apr 17, 2016 5:46 AM
Utilities on land lord (by Emily [TX]) Apr 17, 2016 8:03 AM
Utilities on land lord (by Scott [IL]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 5:06 PM
Message:
State Specific Question About: ILLINOIS (IL)
The town of our rentals has its own power generation plant and established a policy that if a renter leaves town owing more than the deposit--------the land lord is liable!!! How can YOU owe someone else utility bill? Is this even legal? --173.30.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Sparky [PA]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 5:20 PM
Message:
In localities where utilities are provided by municipal utility companies, real property can be liened for unpaid utility bills. Consequently, if a landlord wants to keep his/her property free of liens, s/he may have to pay unpaid utilities of departing tenants. --100.6.xx.xx |
Utilities on land lord (by JR [ME]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 5:25 PM
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Yes, if the utility is owned by a municipality it can attach to the property. --45.46.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Gail [MO]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 5:40 PM
Message:
I'll go you one better than this. In a nearby small town, a home was repoed by a local bank. The city failed to turn off the water, and mexicans squatted in the home for several months. Once the bank learned of this, the mexicans were evicted. A month or so later, the bank got a water bill for over $600.00. The banker refused to pay it, and the city then filed a lein against the property. Banker then hired attorney and took the town to court. Banker lost case, and the city to this day still does this, even when the tenants are there ILLEGALLY! --173.202.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 5:40 PM
Message:
The Water Utility for the giant City of Los Angeles tried to play games with landlords, making them pay either a tenants utility or huge deposit upon the purchase of a property. This is nothing new, all other departments in the City/County did the same illegal moves in a ever shrinking economy.
Each time I purchase a property I cancel any automatic transfer of utility when not paid and is about to be shut-off. But the Heath Code states that a tenant may not live without the essentials -- running hot/cold water, sewer and heating. The City will not allow an eviction or the tenant to pay rent when the unit/property has a essential missing.
So I had a "professional squatter" break in a vacant house and had the utilities turned off so that she wouldn't be liable for rent and couldn't be evicted. The City put out a notice that unless I gave the squatter a "lease" so she could restore service or I put the utilities in my name, I would be fined and arrested.
The City Attorney put my case on the docket, I was going to tried when a court opened up in less than 60 days.
It didn't matter that I proved she was a squatter that broke-n, had the utilities turned off and had $72,000 CASH IN THE BANK. She still got to file a case against me and have the fee's waived, being poor.
So you ask us, in a City the Size of Los Angeles, anything is possible.
So now when I rent a property and get all of the information from my applicant, I make sure they have "credit" and the means to cover not only rent, but utilities.
PS. my last tenant who had their power cut off and had no power and no gas, I installed a electric on demand shower head and a light in the bathroom, living room and bedroom on the House Power. Now they had power and hot water and I could evict.
--173.55.xxx.xx |
Utilities on land lord (by Scott [IL]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2016 6:22 PM
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The City makes little if any effort to collect past due utilities when they know the land lords have to pay eventually. There is about 30 land lords in our town of 2000. Perhaps we should test this rule in court together. --173.30.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Robert,Ontario,Can [ON]) Posted on: Apr 17, 2016 4:31 AM
Message:
Once the tenant leaves they are no longer a tenant where the next action is to take them to small claims court for the utility arrears. This can only apply if they work not on social assistance or disability. Municipal utilities are different then private utility companies. One can often avoid problem tenants by running thorough credit checks on all adult applicants. Unpaid utilities and unpaid rent go hand in hand together. --74.220.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Kyle [IN]) Posted on: Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM
Message:
The city sold the water/sewer utilities a few years back, so they can't lien the property for the unpaid bill anymore. But, the utility has tried several times to force me to pay for a tenant's stolen utility usage. Once the state regulators got involved, the utility agreed to pursue the tenant for the bill and allow me to get service turned back on. --73.146.xxx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by cjl [NY]) Posted on: Apr 17, 2016 5:46 AM
Message:
In our area the water authority doesn't take a deposit (although that may be a good idea - I doubt anyone would pay it) and thus makes it the responsibility of the owner of the property (ultimately - regardless of whose name it may be in - if it's not paid by the tenant, then the bill goes to the owner - if not paid there, it is added to the taxes at the end of the year). At least now, the water authority doesn't "wait" until it's "too late" to notify the owner that the tenant isn't or hasn't paid - they send a notice to the owner the following month (it use to be a year later and then the owner would end up with a $1,000 bill and no way to pay it, etc). That is one reason why I STILL leave the water/sewer in our own name, receive the bill THEN copy it and send it to the tenant to pay with their next rent payment (as added rent). I make the payment to the authority, not my tenant.
I also own a property in a nearby municipality that has municipal utilities (power). The tenants are charged a security deposit in order for them to have it in their name. The owners of the property are not charged. I do believe that if the tenants are not paying and are getting "close" to security amount - the owner is advised (I'll have to check on this tomorrow to make sure that they didn't change anything). They will terminate the power though if not paid. I know that they (the municipality) stated that they would advise the owners first - to let us know.
I do not believe that it is our (owners) responsibility if the tenant does not pay. --64.134.xx.xxx |
Utilities on land lord (by Emily [TX]) Posted on: Apr 17, 2016 8:03 AM
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I have seen this. I think it's a load of hooey, but the LL has little recourse.
It's all about (supposedly) deep pockets and the city getting their $$ from someone else because it can't be recovered from the tenant. --71.97.xx.xxx |
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