Utility companies and Liens?

[Brian Ellis]

Can utility companies in MA place liens on the landlords property if tenants refuse to pay past due bills under their name?

I have a scenario where I gave the tenant proper notice to resolve the issue (utility company brought it to my attention), and it was never resolved so I’ve proceeded to the next step. But curious if the utility companies will come after me..

Any help is appreciated

thank you! 

  

[Ned Carey]

@Brian Ellis there is an important distinction here that no one has mentioned (unless I missed it).  Is the utility company a government run entity or a private company? In Baltimore city the water dept is part of the city and therefore a tax and lien against the property. However that is not the case in in may counties in MD. 

Most areas of the country the electric and gas utilities are privately owned*. The debts from these companies run with the user of the utilities not the property. Now a company could file to get a judgement against the owner for the debt. Then it would attach to the property.

* a Utility company could be a "Public Company" in that it's stock is available to the public and is listed on stock exchanges. Bu that is a different meaning than I am using here where the local government owns and runs the utility.