How do you handle property utilities?

[Jim Rivell]

BP, I just purchased and rented out my first (2) student rental properties. The first group of tenants moved in on June 1, and the others on August 1. For the first group, we put together a Move-In form with detailed instructions of how to transfer the utilities into their name. (In our area this is just Electric/Gas (same company) and water), but we are having a hard time getting the students to be responsible and transfer the utilities. We would rather not shut them off in the middle of the summer. Do you guys always: 1. Have tenants transfer utilities into their name? 2. Include these in the rent price? or 3. Pay the utilities and charge tenants monthly? Looking forward to discussing.