Who pays what bills?

[Mike Lalor]

First time poster here.  I am looking to buy my first rental.  When it comes down to who is in charge of paying for what bills, do I the landlord have control over that?  for example i notice some rentals the renter is responsible for the water bill, in other rentals they are not.  Is this all determined when the lease is signed?  If i purchase a property with people in the middle of their lease would i have to wait to change these bills until the end of the lease?  

thank you so much in advance

[Colleen F.]

In single families normally the reason you pay water and sewer is in most places you can't get those utilities put in the tenants name and they become a lien on the house if not paid.