Water Service Turned Off and In Different Name

[Zack Kosenka]

Hello BP, 

I rehabbed and rented out my first rental property this April. Everything was going ok, until I got a bill for the water service between May 16-June 14 ...they offer a program that switches the service back into my name when the tenant cancels service. 

The lady that works for the water company said it was canceled and the account was in a name that doesn't match the tenant's name! 

Crazy right...other than getting the tenant to switch it back into his name and pay for the bill I received, how would seasoned landlords handle this situation? 

TIA, 

Zack 

[Theresa Harris]

Simply tell the tenant that they are responsible for the water and tell them what happened. Then tell them they have 2 weeks to pay you the amount of the bill and that it has to go back in their name immediately.