Post due amount of $300 on the water bill for the house I just started renting...?

Question

About a month and a half ago we started renting a house and we called and switched all the utilities to our name when we did. Then we just got a bill in the mail for the water with $300 past due from before we were even living in the house. The previous tenants were evicted because they weren't paying rent and I guess they weren't paying their water either, but how is that in any way our responsibility. We rent directly from the owner of the house and not through an agency, but they are out of town for awhile so we couldn't get a hold of them. Who should be legally responsible for this bill and how do we get it taken care of? I don't want it to get to the point where they turn off our water.

Answer 1

The owner owes the money but if you can't contact him you might call the water department and see what happens if you only pay your own bill. If you must pay the old bill when the owner comes back ask to be reimbursed or if you can withhold some rent for it.

Answer 2

See a criminal professional attentive to genuine factors regulation. the 1st consultation is often loose. i does no longer be so speedy to think of duty for the completed bill. As a reasonable remember, you owe the $ to the water business enterprise, yet then the owner owes you partial reimbursement or a credit in the direction of your hire. If there grew to become into no information of harm, how have been you to comprehend? How would desire to you notify him of something you have been blind to? i'd deliver him the bill, minus the ordinary of what you often pay for water. So, ( as an occasion) in case you often pay $a hundred.00 consistent with month, and the bill is for a 2 month era, i'd ask the owner to reimburse you the $seven hundred.00 owing to his broken factors--$200.00 is what you will have paid, under universal circumstances. the owner " 13 300 and sixty 5 days landlord" gave you a common landlord's answer. they're consistently attempting to bypass off costs to their tenants. Your landlord owes you plumbing in good working condition. each and every so often, water would not bypass immediately by using, it takes a circuitous course, and harm won't be glaring stunning away. study YOUR hire. playstation - seem for mildew the place the water flowed. it is yet another concern that would desire to be remediated by way of the owner, if it develops. some people get very unwell from Black mildew.

Answer 3

The Landlord should help you out but to be honest the former tenants are the ones that are responsible for the past due bill. You need to go down to the water department and explain that you just moved in, take a copy of your lease showing the date you moved in and explain that this is not your responsibility. The water department has to remove it from your bill and go after the owner of the house or the former owner, they cannot charge you for it. That's their problem not yours. As long as you can prove that you just moved in prior to the dates they are charging you for then you should be fine, but fight it out with the water department and have your landlord help you out.

Answer 4

I had the same problem. Call the water company provide them with the lease you have, also write a letter stating that this bill is not yours. Make sure you send it certified and enclose a copy of the lease. Also CC your landlord certified mail as well because if you pay the water bill you can reduce the amt payed for rent make sure you advise the landlord you are willing to pay the bill but will decrease the mthly rent. the most important thing is to have paper trail and keep them safe in case your landlord trys to act funny with you deposit when and if you move

Answer 5

Firstly talk to the Water Utility and explain the situation.Secondly the owner of the property is responsible for any previous debts.Send the owner a letter,or e-mail ,stating that you expect him/her to pay the overdues.As a last resort,shortpay the rent,and pay the water yourself.Make sure you keep written records of your actions.

Answer 6

Call the water company and tell them that you are only responsible for water used from the date you rented and switched the service to your name. It could be just a simple clerical error. You are not responsible for any charges incurred prior to your signing up for the service. If the water company still insists, you should first turn it over to the owner to deal with, and if that does not work, file a small claims court suit against the water company. I doubt it will have to go that far.