Who sets up utilities when renter pays all utilities?

Question

I'm considering buying a half duplex to rent out and was wondering who starts up and gets the bill for utilities when the renter is paying all utilities? I should mention that I will also be managing this property.   I would think a landlord would want to have these things set up and running before the tenant moves in but that means that the bills are in my name.  Does landlord/owner set the utilities up under his/her name and then forward the bill(s) to the tenant? Or, Are  utility bills transferred to the tenant once they move in?  Please advise.  Thanks!

Tristan H. · Answer

Good point - in my area you have to have 10 properties before they will do so. So right now we are stuck paying a $42 connection charge each time... grrrr.

Rick S. · Answer

@John Hesford check with the utility company as a lot of them have a landlord program where the the utilities will transfer back to you when the property is vacant.

Tristan H. · Answer

First I will explain how it works for us with single family, and then explain the distinction for duplexes. For our properties we first turn on utilities in our name so that the lights are on for showing the property, and so that we can have the alarm system on (we use SimpliSafe). When the tenant signs the lease, we let them know that we will call the utility company and ask them to turn off utilities on the move in date. Thus, the tenant needs to call a couple days in advance to have the utilities put in their name.

With a duplex, things are a little different from a single family. Often with a duplex, there is a single water meter is for both sides, but the gas and electric meters will be separated out by unit. In that case you would get all utilities in your name, and then for the gas and electric, the tenant would have to get those utilities placed in their name on move in day. You could state in the lease that there is an additional fee of $X/month for water.

In short, we always get the utilities in our name, and then when a tenant is moving in, call the utility company and ask them to turn those off. That way the tenant has to get the utilities in their name.

Deanna McCormick · Answer

So in our state we have a form that we can fax in or fill in on line it is a landlord form for tenants.

I fill out the form as landlord, and print off a copy for my tenant. The utilities are started and stopped by me the landlord, if tenant fails to pay, before the utilities are shut off we are notified so no property damage is done. If the apartment us vacant for a period the billing goes to me until rented again.

Your lease should state that all utilities must be kept operating or it is considered a lease violation.

JD Martin · Answer

Our properties the utilities roll directly into our name when a tenant moves out. When they move in, they call the utilities and get them set up in their name. Easy as pie. All of our utilities are also on auto-bill. Automate everything you can automate. Never have utilities in your name except for two reasons: a, your state/utility doesn't allow utilities to go into a tenant's name, or b, the utilities go with the property, not the individual. In the case of B, you would never want a tenant running up a huge bill in their name, then running off and leaving you stuck with a major utility bill attached to your property.

Outside of that, you want utilities in their name.

Thomas S. · Answer

You always want the utilities in the renters name to hold them responsible. You have them in your name only when the place is vacant. Set this up with your utility companies, they deal with landlords every day.

One of the conditions you set for handing over the keys is to see proof the tenant has arranged to have utilities transferred to there name. Without that proof you do not hand over the keys.

Who sets up utilities when renter pays all utilities?

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