 Tenant's water bill (by Mary [MI]) Jun 9, 2026 11:38 AM
 Tenant's water bill (by NE [PA]) Jun 9, 2026 11:41 AM
Tenant's water bill (by Ken [NY]) Jun 9, 2026 11:54 AM
Tenant's water bill (by Deanna [TX]) Jun 9, 2026 11:57 AM
Tenant's water bill (by Deanna [TX]) Jun 9, 2026 11:59 AM
Tenant's water bill (by Jason [VA]) Jun 9, 2026 12:10 PM
Tenant's water bill (by Richard [MI]) Jun 9, 2026 1:21 PM
Tenant's water bill (by zero [IN]) Jun 9, 2026 1:53 PM
Tenant's water bill (by Tony [NJ]) Jun 10, 2026 7:39 AM
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Tenant's water bill (by Mary [MI]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 11:38 AM
Message:
How do you handle a tenant's water bill when the city puts the cost of your tenants water on your Real Estate taxes to pay when the tenants runs up a huge bill?? --107.4.x.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 11:41 AM
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Keep it in your name and back charge them when it’s due. --24.152.xxx.xx |
Tenant's water bill (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 11:54 AM
Message:
water is in my name, i mail the bill to the tenants,they pay it,if they dont it gets turned off and they pay to get it back on. i would call the city in your case and ask what is procedure and why wasnt it turned off? if they just add it to the taxes i would start an eviction on the tenant if they dont pay me --38.248.xx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 11:57 AM
Message:
Around here, water is the municipality and property taxes (municipal, county, school districts) are through the county. Taxes are based on the value of the property but not on any additional debts associated with the property. Liens for water bills and city code mowing can be attached and collected, though, if a property gets sold for back taxes. But that doesn't kick in until the actual sale.
I've never had them put on taxes. Usually it's between the tenant and the water department. One time, the City had left the water on in Tenant A's name, even after Tenant A had left. Then Tenant B moves in. I tell him to activate utilities in his own name, and he reassures me he will. I stop thinking about it. Fast-forward four or six months, and the City calls me in a panic. For the last hundred years, they had handled their own billing, but the rocket scientists at the City thought they could save money by outsourcing billing. And somehow no one realized that the address was getting water service without being billed. The employee made some kind of ominous threat to me--- "We'll shut off water to this house until this bill gets paid. If he doesn't pay it, you'll have to pay it before we unlock it." Which I don't think is legal around here, especially for their own office error. Fortunately, the tenant accepted a payment plan and it never became an issue. --172.59.xxx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 11:59 AM
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(A closed the account. The City stopped billing and treated the house as vacant, but left the water on.) --172.59.xxx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by Jason [VA]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 12:10 PM
Message:
Your first order of business should be to get in there and inspect for leaks. The toilet flappers should be your first stop. --128.77.xx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by Richard [MI]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 1:21 PM
Message:
Landlords in Michigan can secure an exemption from a lien for delinquent water and sewer charges that are the responsibility of a tenant pursuant to a lease being placed on the property. To do so, the landlord must file a notice and affidavit with the municipality assessing the charges. However, at each lease expiration, the exemption from lien will also expire. Therefore, whether the lease is renewed with the same tenant or a new tenant occupies the space, if water and sewer is the responsibility of the tenant, then the landlord must file a new notice and affidavit to ensure continued exemption from lien. Providing this notice and affidavit should be included in the landlord’s checklist of items to take care of where the tenant will be responsible for water and sewer charges.
Check with the state on this.
Tenants tried this same thing long ago and this law was passed in the late 1920's or 1930's I think. Look around on line and you can find it. --50.36.xxx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Jun 9, 2026 1:53 PM
Message:
Some utility companies will let the LL set up an account so they are contacted when a bill is not paid.
I know one small town I hold in actually calls me if electric or water gets missed.
But then again, another town I hold in started saying that it was private information and they will not let me know. Sure thing, then I will not be responsible for when they bail and the water company gets stuck with the bill.
Typically they just slap a lien on the property. No worries until you try and sell or refi the place.
I used to keep the water bills in my name. I would text the bill to the tenant and they paid me for it. I always paid as soon as the bill came in so I was losing money to do it. So I started charging the tenant the late fee amount. But it was a pain to deal with and the town stopped allowing the people to get such high bills. --47.227.xx.xxx |
Tenant's water bill (by Tony [NJ]) Posted on: Jun 10, 2026 7:39 AM
Message:
I "escrow" the water bill and add it to the monthly rent. Then I reconcile quarterly as I receive the bill. I word it in my lease as "due and payable as additional rent" so I can evict if they pay the rent but not the water/sewer. --76.117.xxx.xxx |
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