Water Dispute with the City

[Karim Shah]

Need some advise please.

I have a tenant moving into my rental property today. I contacted the water department to turn on supply and they informed me I have a unpaid water for a six month period. When asked how much is was they said $5,000! They refuse to turn on the water until the paid is paid in full.

My normal bill six months is usually $500. The section 8 tenant that was living there until two months ago had been living there for over 4 years and that was her normal bills. I said to the water department they must have a faulty meter and for them to check. 

They advised they removed the meter a couple of months as the supply was turned off.

My question is how do I handle this as they are taking a hardline even though I am disputing the amount / usage. 

[Joel Owens]

"The bills isn't in the tenants name this city doesn't allow it."

So if the bill isn't in the tenants name then that has to mean the water bill is in YOUR name the landlord correct??

If so you would have gotten a utility bill or SHOULD HAVE been requesting a duplicate each month. You would immediately know if the bill was really high. Right away you then got to the unit and check for leaks. Also if you have an outside spigot someone could be stealing water etc.

If leaks are found you document and repair and then the water authority usually has you fill out a form and do an adjustment  credit based on what it should have been. You will not be able to get one over on them. Where I am you talk to the water engineer on the phone and they know for no leaks and size of unit what amount of gallons are used on average each month. They even know how much water would leak extra based on the repair you had fixed.

Now looking back at your post did you just buy this property and getting the tenant and were hit with this 5,000 bill or have you owned the property since the billing has been piling up??