

Provide this information to your potential tenant before they sign their lease. If you are using sub-meters that measure the energy used by each rental unit, then advise your tenants of the sub-metering company name and contact information the tenants must use to set up utility billing in their names. What if my rental property has a sub-meter?

The lease agreement should be very clear about who is responsible for paying utility bills at the rental property. Encourage your tenants to set up service at least three days before the move-in. If your tenant is responsible for paying for water, electricity, and/or natural gas service, remind them to read and understand the terms and conditions of the service with their utility providers, such as cancellation terms, expiration date, charges, and any automatic renewal clauses.
#BILLS TO PAY WHEN RENTING AN APARTMENT HOW TO#
How to make sure my tenants understand their utility responsibilities? However, if the tenant must set up a billing account for utilities in their name per the lease agreement, then no cost for these utilities will be part of the rental amount required to be paid to the landlord as part of the lease. If the amount to cover utility payments is fixed, you cannot change the lease terms unless both your tenant and you agree to it. When the landlord keeps the utility billing in their name, some leases set out a fixed amount to cover utility payments or a fluctuating amount based on the bill. Make sure the lease terms between you and your tenant clearly state who is responsible for utility payments. Should I put the utility payment terms into the lease document? Either way, the utility company registers just one name for those bills, and only the person whose name is on the bill can access information about them. The tenants might be paying for all utilities directly to a service provider, or the landlord might be paying for some or all of them. There is no official rule about who has to pay for utilities. Who is responsible for paying utility bills at the rental property – the landlord or the tenant?

What can happen if my tenants stop paying their water bills?.What can happen if the previous tenants cancel their account, but my new tenants never sign up for utility services?.What to expect if my tenant moves out without paying the utility bills?.What if my rental property has a sub-meter?.How to make sure my tenants understand their utility responsibilities?.Should I put the utility payment terms into the lease document?.Who is responsible for paying utility bills at the rental property – the landlord or the tenant?.If you cannot find the information you need, please contact our mediation officers. Read these frequently asked questions and answers to learn how you can avoid costly mistakes. As a landlord, you might experience challenging electricity, natural gas, and water utility situations where you are unsure of your rights and responsibilities.
