Utilities

[David Howarth]

There is 2 ways to go about utilities:

1. Sign up the utilities under my name and pass the bill on
2. Have the tenants sign up and pay the utilities.

Is there any paperwork I have to do to change the utilities out of my name and into the tenants?
Also if a tenant does not pay is there a lien against the tenant or the dwelling?

[Mark Yuschak]

I recommend you confirm the perspective tenant can even get utilities turned on before you sign a lease with them. I was almost burned by that once. Signed the lease and called the utility company to transfer services to the tenant only to find out that they were ineligible to get gas and elecrtic in their name due to a $4,000 deliquent bill.

The tenant was forced to move and forefitted the 1st month rent and depost. Easiest $1100 I made in one week.

As part of my background check, I call the utility company. If they can't get the utilities in their name, I pass on 'em. Not all scenarios end up such as the one "bad" experience I had.