HOW YOU CAN AVOID MUNICIPAL EFFORTS TO BILL LANDLORDS FOR UNPAID UTILITIES In municipalities across the U.S. a growing concern has emerged regarding unpaid utilities in rental properties. Many landlords have found themselves grappling with the financial burden of unpaid water, gas, and electricity bills left behind by tenants. To address this issue, some municipalities have implemented measures to hold landlords accountable for unpaid utility bills, while others are exploring solutions to prevent this situation from occurring in the first place.
THE RISING ISSUE OF UNPAID UTILITIES Financial strain has hit Americans coast to coast. Rising utility costs are part of it. That can sadly cause tenants to leave utilities unpaid when they move out, which then causes greater strain on the landlord and the municipality providing the utility. Water/sewer/trash are more common to be unpaid than electric or gas because the private providers are faster to cut those services off entirely. This issue not only affects individual landlords but can also strain municipal resources as the unpaid utility bills accumulate over time. When tenants vacate a property without settling
their utility bills, whether with municipalities or utility companies, landlords are often left to foot the bill, which can be a significant financial burden. In Casper, Wyoming, for just one example, the city is considering holding landlords accountable for bills they cannot collect.
WATER/SEWER/TRASH ARE MORE COMMON TO BE UNPAID THAN ELECTRIC OR GAS.
“The thought process behind this is that the city wants to reduce how much of the burden of unpaid charges they shoulder,” Casper City Manager Carter Napier said. “When those bad debts are written off by the city every year, the rate payers absorb them through the utility rates.”
PAGE 24
Powered by FlippingBook