Tenant not transferring utilities

[James Roux]

I have a new tenant and this is my first rental property who has had the property for a week now. He hasn’t moved in yet to be fair but in his lease I noted that tenant must transfer utilities with in 3 days in his lease. And he keeps making excuses as to why he hasn’t done so. And he informs me it isn’t a lease violation am I in the wrong how should I deal with this? Thanks anyone who may have some advice.

[Bill B.]

Too late for this tenant. BUT, in the future.  I don’t hand over keys until they provide proof utilities have been  transferred to their name. 

Ps. You can certainly still bill the tenant for utilities used after the lease started. The sewer can not be put in tenants name in some cities I invest in. They are simply billed a percent of the billed time they were leasing the property.