Landlord Never Changed Electricity Account - Required to Pay?

Question

Hello,

Recently moved to a condo unit that was available for LEASE in Los Angeles, California using a Property Manager.  Upon the CAR FORM LEASE, it states that tenant is responsible for electricity under paragraph 9 for utilities.  However, when the tenant moved into the premise, the electricity was already on. The tenant never received an electricity bill from Southern California Edison.  This went on for about two months; tenant always had electricity service provided.  After two months, the property manager informs the tenant that the landlord has been receiving the electric bills and never had changed the account over to the tenant.  The assumption of continuing electricity for two months is that the homeowner's account was never canceled and automatic payment was setup.

Is the tenant, by law, required to pay for the electric bill from the two months?  Since the tenant never had the electric bill under their name, is the tenant required to reimburse the landlord for the two months of electricity usage?

Kyle J. · Answer

If the lease says the tenant is responsible for utilities then the tenant should pay the utilities.  What's so difficult about that?

The tenant had to know they weren't paying for the utilities during that two month period and that they never even switched them into their name.  I'm sure the tenant was hoping for a freebie, but the right thing to do would be to reimburse the landlord for the cost of the utilities for the two months that the tenant was obligated to pay for them.

Matt K. · Answer

How are you going to answer in court when the judge asks why the tenant never put the electricity in their name........for 2 months?

Manolo D. · Answer

Common sense prevails, not really a law. Judge will simply decide in favor of landlord. I mean, really, over a couple bucks?

Lynn McGeein · Answer

Don't know California at all and not a lawyer, so no legal advice, but if it's in the lease that tenant pays utilities, then tenant should reimburse landlord for utilities, whether it's in landlord's name or not.  There are many rentals where several units are on the same meter and landlord divides the bill between units but bill remains in landlord's name.  In my home in WA state, tenant could pay the water bill directly, but it always had to remain in my name.

Landlord Never Changed Electricity Account - Required to Pay?

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