Unpaid Tenant Bill Going to Collections

[Aaron W.]

One of our tenants stopped paying their gas bill in February and then it went to collections. Since I am listed as the owner of the property, my name was sent to collections instead of the tenant. I've since paid the bill since I don't want my name to remain in collections and I plan to go after the tenant for this bill. I don't appreciate my name being sent to collections.


Even if the tenant puts the bill in their name and they default, does it still come back to me as the property owner?

How do I avoid this same thing happening with future tenants? 

How does it change if I put the property in an entity, such as an LLC?