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Updated almost 10 years ago on . Most recent reply
Copy of Lease to Start Trash Service???? Really?!?
Just got a call from a new tenant starting her services at one of my new rentals. The waste company wants a copy of her lease to start the service. Really? I have never heard of such a thing. A year ago this same company did not, to my knowledge, require the same thing at a different property. What is going on here? I don't even understand what they would get out of having it. These utilities are making it harder and harder to move the utilities billing from person to person. Thankfully the local cooperative that covers light and water is easy to work with (and all my rentals are within its boundaries). The Sewer District requires a notarized letter to move the bill into a tenants name, I have basically been forced into including it in rent (and eating the 5-10% increases every year).
Any suggestions on how to make these handovers smoother for my tenants-specifically with the garbage company?
Thanks,
Eric
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Call the utility company and let them know you are the owner of a rental property at _______ address, let them know you have a new tenant by the name of _______ and that you have asked the tenant to contact the utility company to establish the utility account in their name. Ask the utility representative for their help in completing the transaction. Listen to what the utility company says.
They may have changed their policies recently and need to get verification from you about the change in occupancy and a directive from you, as owner of the property, as to what name you want on the billing. I usually do the change of utilities at the time of tenant move-in with both me and the new tenant on the phone with the representative. Works like a charm.
There may be a logical reason as to why the utility company has asked for the documentation. Ask. It may be to deter fraud, as some people use rental addresses in which they do not live to establish "proof of residency" to get a driver's license or to get in-state tuition.