Unpaid water bill.

[bonzo]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

I own a property in south philadelphia that i have been renting. Last June of 05 new tenants moved in. I just received a notice from the water company that there is an outstanding bill of $267.00. I called the water company and they told me that the last payment they received was back in July of 05. I called the water dept to find out what was going on. They told me that the water is going to be shut of on April 10th. I then asked them what my name was doing on the account. The rep told me that tenants can't have the water bill under their name cause they don't own the house.

So i called the tenant to ask what was going on and he told me that he just called the water dept up and told me he took care of everything. I explained to him that i hope he is not lying cause his water will be shut off on the 10th. Just for my own piece of mind i called the water dept. back to see if he did make arrangements to take care of the bill and the rep for the water dept. told me something that i think was nuts. She said that im still responsible for the bill. I told her well then let them shut the water off. She then said that they may tell the tenant how not to have the water shut off, but it might not mean that the bill was paid. I don't know if im losing my mind or if the water dept is that stupid.

My question is how can i be responsible for the bill when im not living in the house and using the water , why can't the tenant have the bill put in his name and how can the water dept tell me that they may be able to tell the tenant how not to have the water shut off but i may still be responsible for the bill?

The tenant has all of the other utilities under their name why not the water? What action should i take so i don't get stuck with this unpaid bill. Just a note. I have a renters and business license and fully legal.
Thanks

 

[ENASNI]

whoa... south Philly, there is no way we can figure this out if you can't. It is just too confusing!

Well at least for me it is.

Better minds may come along.

 

[FarmerJ]

City water and sewer systems are allowed to attach unpaid charges to the property taxes that benefited the use. If its in the lease that the tenant is to pay it and they didnt then the lease has been breached and you will have to follow PA procedures for the breach, If your going to have the tenant pay the bill the best way is to either get the water utility to do dual notice billing so you get a copy of the bill and can more closely moniter its status OR put in to the lease the next time you have to do one that you will mail a copy every time the bill comes and the tenant has X number of days to reimburse you. OR more simple yet just inc it in the rent and raise the rent and word the lease that any amount over and above a certian dollar amount per billing cycle then you will increase the rent with notice mid lease. YOU better see to it this is paid because some citys condemn units that have the water turned off and then you risk a whole new set of problems like bringing the property into full code compliance should that city require it of any property they condemn before it can be re occupied.

 

[ecmst12]

I rented a house outside of Philly and we had no problem having the water bill in our name. Sounds like someone at the water company is confused.

 

[bonzo]

Water Bill.

Thanks for the response. What i found it is that the law states the tenant can't have the water bill put in their name cause they don't own the house. I spoke to my lawyer and someone at the Local Home Owners association.

The water is scheduled to be shut off on April 10th. But here is the interesting part. The water dept. will not allow the water to be shut off if the current tenant can prove that they don't own the property. So what will happen is that the water will stay on but the bill will keep growing. I went back and looked at the lease and here is the deal i made the current tenants. I told them that i would pay half of the water bill.

What i asked them to do is to save their receipts and at the end of the year i would look at the total and pay them half of that back. So what they did is breach the lease. I was advised to let them know this and if not taken care of do not renew their lease which is up in June of this year and advise them they will be evicted.

When i make up a new lease i will state that the tenant is reponsible for 100% of the water bill. Thanks for the suggestions i received. Your advise is well taken.
Have a great night.