Water lien on a house

[Eli M.]

Dear BP family,

In the state of Pennsylvania water is lienable against a house (not person/tenant). I was wondering if anyone of you would know how much a person has to owe for the city to actually put an official lien on the house?

My section 8 tenant doesn't pay her water bill and my management company takes their sweet time to resolve this issue with her.

thank you all in advance

[Gregory H.]

@Eli M.

Your tenant should not be paying the water bill directly. How you should be doing it is that the bill is in your name directly, either you or the management company pay it directly to the water authority every month/quarter (however it is billed), then you bill the tenant for it. That way, you never have to worry about a lien. I'm surprised your management company did not recommend this, as it is pretty basic.