Moral Dilemma Regarding tenant

[Leonard Rybak]

Hi all,  I have owned my first and only rental property (Single family) for about 3 months now. My tenant moved in 2 weeks after I closed, a couple and 1 teenaged child.  It has not been as smooth as I had liked.  My tenant their 1st months rent and gave their deposit.  The 2nd month, the rent was late, but given.  The 3rd month (now) they gave only 30% of their rent and they were extra late.  I have a property manager and will probably begin the eviction process if nothing changes.

My moral dilemma comes here.  They were supposed to take the gas bill onto their name and transfer it from my name.  I was informed by the property manager that they had done that, but I keep getting gas bills and the gas company confirms that the account has never been transferred and is still in my name.    Mind you, this is the north east and it is becoming winter. The temps are already in the 30s and 40s.   Should I treat this exclusively like a business venture and cut my name from the gas company (and officially close my account) possibly leaving this family without heat, unless they get their act together and get their own account.   Or should I just keep it in my name until they actually transfer it as they have been promising for 3 months.

I am not receiving my agreed upon rent and personally do not want to keep being taken advantage of by the tenant. If they are not paying rent, what guarantees that they will reimburse me for the gas bill.   My only moral dilemma is that I feel like its  bad karma to turn off the heat for a family with a child in the winter.  What do you guys think. Keep in mind this is my first investment property.

[Theresa Harris]

You need to talk to your PM and ask them why it wasn't transferred when they said it was. This is why you are paying a PM-to manage your property.  Tell your PM, it needs to be transferred to the tenants immediately and let them handle it.  Also tell the PM to post notice for the tenants telling them to pay or quit.  The last thing anyone wants is an eviction, but if they don't pay the rent, then that is what will happen.