Tenant left with a PGW bill in excess of $5k

[Tom Hick]

Tenant left with a PGW bill of $5000 plus.

I am in Landlord Cooperation Program but still unsure if a lien will go against my property since the amount might of accrued before entering in their program.

Tenant is demanding security deposit and attorney said to send certified letter stating no return of deposit until matter with PGW is settled with proof of documentation.

Anyone ever have this happen? PGW will not give me her bill statements and said she was on a Medical Hold program that was renewed every 30 days.

[PJ M.]

Being part of the LCP is supposed to prevent things like this from happening.  As long as the entire balance is from the time you were in the LCP, this is a residential property, and you responded to any emails/phone calls/letters from PGW, you should be protected from a lien on the property.  

You mention it might have accrued before entering their program.  If that is the case, then yeah, it stays with the property and you're going to have to collect from the tenant.  The LCP is not retroactive, it's from the time of registration forward.  PGW may also want the issue resolved before they will turn on gas service for a new tenant.

@Nathan Gesner natural gas service, in Philly, is provided by the Philadelphia Gas Works which is a publicly owned utility service.  It's treated the same as how a water utility is in many parts of the country.  The bill is with the property, not the tenant/consumer.  It's a lienable item here.