Tenant Has Not Paid Gas Bill!

[Jennifer Boney]

Hi,

This is my first post although I have been a long-term lurker! I've learned so much from this site already and would appreciate guidance on an issue I have with a rental, since I haven't been able to find a similar thread.

I have a tenant who's been living in my SFH rental for 3 months who's already had some payment issues, and I just heard from her saying that her gas has been turned off. Apparently she owes $500 from a previous bill (from her former residence) and cannot have the gas turned back on at our property until this is paid off...which she said would take a while.

My question is, how should I respond/what should I do? Her lease states that a tenant has the obligation to keep all utilities on, including gas. So she's technically in breach of her lease, but I'd kind of feel bad piling on if I start eviction proceedings (I know this is a business but still...). Is there any liability for me if I let her stay in the property knowing there's no gas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Rob K.]

I would talk to the tenant and tell her that she needs to get her act together. Let her know that she has two weeks to get the gas on and all rent must be on time. If she can't do that, I would get rid of her now while we are in peak rental season.

Has she paid the water? You might get a surprise bill.

In the future, I would require all tenants to have gas and electric turned on before signing the lease. If that was your policy here, she would have either paid the gas company the money owed before moving in or you could have known up front that she's a deadbeat and rented to someone else.