Do you set utilities to revert to you when tenants move out?

[Karla Kahmeyer]

Hello BP community!

I'm excited that I'm closing on my first duplex next week in Grandview, MO (a suburb of KC).

I have two questions related to utilities.

First: Does anyone know if the Landlord is required to pay trash in Grandview? I've been out to the city website and couldn't find any information, but my real estate agent told me that it is. I looked at the lease for the tenant that is currently in place, and it isn't mentioned in their lease - so thought I would crowd source the question to folks out here that might know for sure. 

Second: My property manager recommended that I only transfer the utilities into my name instead of setting them up to auto-revert. What say the community - anyone out there feel passionately one way or the other about what makes sense?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Karla

[Alex Olson]

@Karla Kahmeyer you can set up with both KCPL, Kansas Gas, BPU and Spire to have a landlord leave on contract that will revert back to you when the tenants have them shut off. I have not had any issues with tenants in this way. If they shut off what ever outstanding balance impacts their credit not you as a landlord.