$3000 Water Bill in Akron, Section 8 Tenant

[Roohil Hamid]

I recently heard from my tenant about consistently high water bills—over $1,000 each month. After checking the online portal, I see the current balance is over $3,100, and the water was shut off two days ago. The tenant has been facing these excessive charges for about three months but only just reached out to me.

In Akron, I understand that the property owner is typically responsible for the bill, though our lease specifies that the tenant is responsible. Since the bills are sent to the service address, I wasn’t aware of the situation until now.

I’d like to arrange for a plumber to diagnose the leak, but with the water shut off until the balance is paid, I’m unsure how to proceed. What do you recommend as the best course of action?

Thanks for your guidance.

[Jonathan Bock]

All plumbers and even some tenants will have a water key to turn it on.

I would check toilets first usually the culprit.  

Not your last big bill but a good learning moment 

[Marcos Paulo Cerra]

If you are going to be held responsible for the bill, I would first try to get on a payment plan with the company to pay off that balance. I would imagine that once you set up a payment plan with them, they will turn on the water for the plumbers to do what they need to do.

Not sure on the regulations on this but Id also see taking the tenant to court for the balance due on the water bill.

Best of luck!

[Brendan Taylor]

Yeah. This happens sometimes. You can set up an online account to monitor the bills and tenants payment activity. This way you can track without seeing a paper bill. We check it 1-2 times per month and remind tenants to keep up with it. 

You could argue tenant never made you aware of the leak so it’s on them but normally that doesn’t get you anywhere. Try to set up a payment plan if possible. Best of luck. 

[Theresa Harris]

give the tenant notice that you are sending in a plumber and then send them in to look.  I'll bet it is a leaky toilet flapper valve or something.  Then tell the tenant they need to work out a payment plan with the utilities so that the water can remain on.  Some water companies will reduce the bill if it is due to a leak, but the fact that the tenant waited three billing cycles to say anything means they may not get much of a discount.

[James Wise]

Quote from @Roohil Hamid:

I recently heard from my tenant about consistently high water bills—over $1,000 each month. After checking the online portal, I see the current balance is over $3,100, and the water was shut off two days ago. The tenant has been facing these excessive charges for about three months but only just reached out to me.

In Akron, I understand that the property owner is typically responsible for the bill, though our lease specifies that the tenant is responsible. Since the bills are sent to the service address, I wasn’t aware of the situation until now.

I’d like to arrange for a plumber to diagnose the leak, but with the water shut off until the balance is paid, I’m unsure how to proceed. What do you recommend as the best course of action?

Thanks for your guidance.

 Plumber will have a curb key so they'll be able to turn it back on to figure out where the leak is.