Can you have water turned on without a lease agreement? If so how? Don't assume it is for squatters. It is not. Thanks --73.241.xx.xx

James the other thread you started wasn’t enough? You need to understand you are on a landlording site, although some may offer you advice, many are not willing to help tenants. I realize this seems harsh, but many, if not all of us have been financially impacted by a tenant. Your best bet is to go to a forum for tenants in order to receive information without personal opinions and/or emotions. Asking your question here is equivalent to going onto a law enforcement forum and asking how to get away with a crime, understand. --174.196.xxx.xx

Anyone with direct answers relating to the question? --73.241.xx.xx

This is the trouble with living in a property where you don't have control of your own water. The water in the pipes is owned by the water company. If you turn it on without a lease or without permission, you are stealing it. Pay up and do it right or Move to the country where you are on a well and you can control your own water. --70.44.xxx.xx

NE, our boy James here isn’t interested in any of that, he only wants someone to tell him how he can somehow skirt the system and get the water reinstated WITHOUT proving he is legally allowed to be living there! --174.196.xxx.xx

JKJ. Agreed. --157.131.xxx.xxx

James I gotta ask......you said “don’t assume it’s for squatters”, your staying in a place with NO RENTAL AGREEMENT in your name, you cannot prove you legally are allowed to be living there in order to have the water turned on, what exactly do you think you are then? --174.196.xxx.xx

In California, if you have "good credit" and can lie to the Utility, YES it's possible you can have water turned on at a residence. --47.155.xx.xxx

The easiest answer is for him to call the water company. That would also be the most obvious answer. --70.44.xxx.xx

And the reminding residents should be half way thru their packing. Why do you want to continue to live there and fight this. Clearly you are exiting... the faster the better. Just my 2cents worth --99.203.xx.xxx

Any real answers? --172.58.xx.xxx

Who is this guy and why is he here? --50.82.xxx.xxx

How many of you are living there? --73.120.xx.xxx

From what I have read water cannot be shutoff if people still reside in the home. --172.58.xx.xxx

It is no different then any other financial matter. If you do not pay your car payment then your car will be repossessed.If you do not pay the rent then you will be evicted. --73.120.xx.xxx

James, I already suggested you go to Helen Waite. If you don’t want to go to Helen Waite, then plan to drop a deuce in 5 gallon buckets and enjoy the stink. Wait, you said you live in the Bay Area. Can’t you just pinch a loaf on the sidewalk or in the grocery store isle? --98.13.xx.xxx

I know that's right, RJ. --199.192.xxx.x

Home Depot sells curb keys. You can steal it that way. Make a fake lease. You're looking to scam somehome, get to it. --70.44.xxx.xx

Unpaid utilities then the town or city can legally shut off the water, electricity or natural gas. If the utility companies were not able to shut off then soon the utility company would go bankrupt in a short time. If a water, electricity or natural gas is in tenants name then the tenant responsible to pay for utility. So if tenant does not pay then the utility can be legally shut off. Here it costs almost as much for water, sewage charges as electricity. So most people try to conserve every cubic meter as possible. Many times had people apply for apartments when on the credit check unpaid utilities and other unpaid bills came up where unpaid utilities and unpaid rent go hand in hand together. So unpaid utilities was non starter. Here some of tenancy advocates actually own their houses where they should allow squatters to move in with free utilities then see if they would not try to evict. One time there was no landlord and tenant act where the furniture was on front lawn end of story. No rent no tenancy. --147.194.xxx.xx

James, are you also Jose Cruz from CA who just posted something about holdovers? --71.202.xx.xxx

But again, if you have a lease, just give it to the water company - they don't care who used to pay the bill, they want to know who is going to pay it in the future. One of the reasons utility companies want to see leases is so that folks who owe money at one location don't get service at another location in someone else's name. --72.70.xxx.x

I see my answer in the holdover tenant post. You aren't on the lease, you are an occupant ... world of difference and that's why the utility won't turn the water on. --72.70.xxx.x

WHY did you all reply to this AGAIN?! --70.160.xxx.xxx

Utility companies do not turn power, water, gas, whatever off or on with nothing but phone calls from strangers. --76.178.xx.xx