tenant water bill

[Mark Forest]

[b]How does a landlord protect themselves from tenant who does not pay water bill due to eviction/expiration when the water bill follows the house? We can only charge one and half times the rent for a security deposit legally which does not cover the rent, damages and water costs. Water rates costs are much more expensive now then when this law was passed.

[Ned Carey]

I assume you are already having the water bills sent to you and then you bill your tenant. If that is not how you have it set up, you need to change it so you know the water bills are getting paid. It the tenant doesn't reimburse you, you can deal with that immediately.

Basically it seems you are asking "What happens when the security deposit doesn't cover my costs?" Well that is one of the risks of being a landlord. It is just part of the cost of doing business. the best way to minimize this is screen your tenants better.

Good luck - Ned