I'm being forced to pay for electricity after lease is over

[sdscouser]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arizona

Hello.

I was in a 6 month apartment lease where i couldn't get my landlord to help switch over my electricity bill to my name. After several attempts to resolve the issue with the manager, she kept putting me off, even after she told me the electricity would get cut off if the issue wasn't resolved.

So that period passed and now the lease is over, I'm 2 months into a month to month with never being charged for electricity. I get a notice from the new manager(the old one was fired) who has been here for maybe a month that i have 4 days to get the bill in my name or have it cut off which is fine but then she told me i have to set up a payment plan to pay back for all those months of service.

I sat down to talk to her and she explained and i told her what was happening with the other manager. She said they were several tenants that have the same thing going on. I told her i have no problem making the switch but that i refused to pay 8 months worth of services because the were already paid by them and my lease was already over.

The contract states "tenant agrees to pay for all utilities including but not limited to heating cooling electric gas sewer water and trash removal. landlord agrees to pay for only the following utilities water sewer and trash. tenant agrees that all utilities must be maintained an inservice at all times failure to maintain service is a material non-compliance of this Agreement"

The electric was not paid by me but it was paid and all services were maintained and in service at all times.

So she gave the number to her boss and told me to get in contact with her. From there i gave her my 30 day notice and told her I'll be moving out.

Can they make me pay? Should i hire a lawyer?

 

[Gail in Georgia]

So...you agree that your lease states you were responsible for the electrical bills and yet you now refuse to pay for 8 months worth of them because you believe you don't owe them because the lease is over?

It would appear you believe that because you have now provided a 30 day notice that leaving will somehow resolve you of these responsibilities?

Yes; you might want to hire a lawyer if/when they sue you for these owed bills.

Gail

 

[Ohiogal]

You owe for the electricity. You deserve to be evicted and sued for the amount that you used.

 

[PendergastAXL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arizona

Hello.

I was in a 6 month apartment lease where i couldn't get my landlord to help switch over my electricity bill to my name. After several attempts to resolve the issue with the manager, she kept putting me off, even after she told me the electricity would get cut off if the issue wasn't resolved.

So that period passed and now the lease is over, I'm 2 months into a month to month with never being charged for electricity. I get a notice from the new manager(the old one was fired) who has been here for maybe a month that i have 4 days to get the bill in my name or have it cut off which is fine but then she told me i have to set up a payment plan to pay back for all those months of service.

I sat down to talk to her and she explained and i told her what was happening with the other manager. She said they were several tenants that have the same thing going on. I told her i have no problem making the switch but that i refused to pay 8 months worth of services because the were already paid by them and my lease was already over.

The contract states "tenant agrees to pay for all utilities including but not limited to heating cooling electric gas sewer water and trash removal. landlord agrees to pay for only the following utilities water sewer and trash. tenant agrees that all utilities must be maintained an inservice at all times failure to maintain service is a material non-compliance of this Agreement"

The electric was not paid by me but it was paid and all services were maintained and in service at all times.

So she gave the number to her boss and told me to get in contact with her. From there i gave her my 30 day notice and told her I'll be moving out.

Can they make me pay? Should i hire a lawyer?

The managers sound a little shady to me. Sounds like they were playing games with you - putting someone off sounds like they are hiding something. I would ditch them and contact the electric company and explain the situation. You need to get a copy of what you are being charged for, why, and when. Look for apartment ratings sites and see if there are others who are going through the same scam you are - strength in numbers. You need to do the research and collect the documents that support your opinion. If you have a case to push, then push it! Don't let them get away with it!!

Best of luck to you.

 

[not2cleverRed]

(1) Don't listen to pandergas.

(2) What part of "tenant agrees to pay for all utilities including but not limited to heating cooling electric gas sewer water and trash removal. landlord agrees to pay for only the following utilities water sewer and trash. tenant agrees that all utilities must be maintained an inservice at all times failure to maintain service is a material non-compliance of this Agreement" DON'T you understand?

So the electric wasn't in your name. The electric bill was going somewhere, to someone. Pretty sure that you could have found out what the bill was and either offer to pay for it or put the money aside for the eventuality of when it had to be paid.

Your and/or you LL's inability to get the bill into your name does NOT relieve you of the obligation to PAY FOR ALL UTILITIES. Since you did not before, you should pay for it now.

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arizona

Hello.

I was in a 6 month apartment lease where i couldn't get my landlord to help switch over my electricity bill to my name. After several attempts to resolve the issue with the manager, she kept putting me off, even after she told me the electricity would get cut off if the issue wasn't resolved.

So that period passed and now the lease is over, I'm 2 months into a month to month with never being charged for electricity. I get a notice from the new manager(the old one was fired) who has been here for maybe a month that i have 4 days to get the bill in my name or have it cut off which is fine but then she told me i have to set up a payment plan to pay back for all those months of service.

I sat down to talk to her and she explained and i told her what was happening with the other manager. She said they were several tenants that have the same thing going on. I told her i have no problem making the switch but that i refused to pay 8 months worth of services because the were already paid by them and my lease was already over.

The contract states "tenant agrees to pay for all utilities including but not limited to heating cooling electric gas sewer water and trash removal. landlord agrees to pay for only the following utilities water sewer and trash. tenant agrees that all utilities must be maintained an inservice at all times failure to maintain service is a material non-compliance of this Agreement"

The electric was not paid by me but it was paid and all services were maintained and in service at all times.

So she gave the number to her boss and told me to get in contact with her. From there i gave her my 30 day notice and told her I'll be moving out.

Can they make me pay? Should i hire a lawyer?