How to check owed water bill on property in Detroit MI

Question

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking to invest in a property in Detroit MI, however, I understand that new owners have to pay the owed water bill in order to clear a property, and start moving in tenants. Does anyone know if there is a way to find out if there is a water bill that is owed on the property? Any insight anyone could provide would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Scott M. · Answer

Hey Keoni, a few years ago the Detroit water department put privacy rules in place that have made it very difficult for "others" to check the status/balance of water accounts.  Several loop holes exist....for example for a few years there was a website that allowed you to still check but that has since been closed.

The most common loophole today is the payment kiosks.  Head to one of those and you can put in the address and get the account number.  Once you have the account number you can search the .300 - .310 and even .400 - .410 accounts if you want to be really thorough.

If you are buying a property you need to work with a title company that still cares are about water….not all do. Some will say because of the new privacy rules they exempt Detroit water from title insurance so you really have to push some title companies.

As a broker, we make it part of our standard PA that the seller will provide final real estate reads on all water accounts.  Once they provide one, we can use that account number to go to the kiosks and check them all.

We also work with title companies that still take this serious.

As a broker and a property manager in SE MI including Detroit, we also have contacts within the water department that from time to time can assist.  Sometimes you can get lucky when you call them as well.

All this said, they haven’t made it easy but the kiosks are your best bet along with working with brokers, property managers and title companies that work FOR YOU and take this stuff serious.

Drew Sygit · Answer

@Keoni Murray - be very careful because the DWSD is also prone to transferring old water bills from tenants to new owners! Their beaurocracy then makes it almost impossible to correct.

Dylan Tanaka · Answer

@Keoni Murray

Scott is 100% correct. Detroit Water is very antiquated and difficult to deal with.

You need to require the Seller to provide you with a FINAL water read. Not a final bill or paid bill.

Title companies are not required to assist on this. It’s ALWAYS up to you as the buyer to do your own diligence.

Scott M. · Answer

Bob Pricso, that isn't necessarily true.  Depending on how you take title (type of deed), what is written (or not) into the PA and the quality / documentation & title co used (if any) can all have an effect on who is responsible for water.  Simple fact is in MI water follows the house, not the owner or the tenant.  If the documentation at close doesn’t cover it or covers it poorly it is now a legal issue because I think we can all agree on one thing, the water company will either get paid the water bill or they will simply transfer it to taxes and now the new owner needs to fight the treasurer and the water co.  If documentation is all done properly then yes, I agree with your statement.

Paul S – your millage will vary on this.  You may strike gold with an individual worker however that is not the policy of the Detroit Water Dept and hasn’t been for years.  You have to prove you are the owner or tenant – basically you need to prove you are the one who pays the bill to get that bill.  Title companies even have a hard time getting water for closings now.  But if you found a worker willing to help you out, be sure to bring them coffee and donuts : )

Bob Prisco · Answer

@Keoni Murray you are not responsible for a previous owners water bill.  Also as a newbie be very careful in Detroit. and you better get a team around you that has done deals. You should not be involved in anything , just closing and collect rent checks

Paul S. · Answer

You can walk in and get the bill too (anyone)... I got to the one on Grand River.

Scott M. · Answer

Side note to Dylans comment - a single final water read is great, a final water read on all accounts is best.  Once you have the account number you can go to the water kiosks and search the .300 - .310 and even a few of the .400 accounts to see if any exsist.

We had a client purchase a property on Friday and we had the sellers agent at the kiosks prior to close taking a video showing what accounts exsisted and the balance.  Water is really the wild west in Detroit and you can't be shy about protecting yourself.

We do this for our clients but most agents/property managers will not as they don't even know about it....so protect yourself out there!

How to check owed water bill on property in Detroit MI

Most Popular Reply