TENANT LEFT UNPAID UTILITY BILLS

Rehabbing, Fix and Flip, Rental Properties
1

Hi,
I have a tenant in West Palm Beach who was chronically late in payments for rent, also left some damage to the place. After back and forth with her, I withheld only $150 of the $1100 when there was $450 in damage, just to be nice. A month later, I have new tenant in who just informed me there is a water bill from a billing company in the amt of $345, apparently she NEVER paid for water. The bill is in my name (HOA set it up) but has in care of: Suzie Tenant. Is there any recourse? I only have her work company and address.
Thanks,
REFLA 8)

2

Who is HOA and did you give authorization for the bill to be put in your name?

3

I suppose you could sue her in small claims court for the amount of money that she owes. Hopefully you still have all her info like SS# so you file the claim in court. Contact her and let her know it’s going to court if she doesn’t do anything.

Also I don’t know anything about laws in Florida, but in Massachusetts, the water bill is the responsiblity of the landlord. I think it’s like that because of the state sanitary code. I don’t typically worry about the other utilities like gas and electric because I tell the utility company to shut it off on their move in date and I make sure to tell the tenant to call them to turn it on otherwise no lights or hot water when they move in. That way if they don’t pay the bill, the utility company goes after them, not me.

4

Thanks, that’s good advice. I don’t have trouble with other utilities (so far), because I make them put in their name. But the water bill goes thru a third party billing service, and the HOA sets up the acct upon purchase, so owner is stuck with it. (They already figured it out)
REFLA 8)

5

HOA = HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION

6

I probably won’t either, it’s just that it is in addition to $450 other damages, but, yes, live and learn. Some people just don’t think they need to pay their bills. I thought it was weird, too. The billing service insists it must be in owners name. I will try to find out who the serice provider is, maybe I can change it for future.
Thanks.

7
$450 other damages
You don't do a walk through before you give back the deposit? How do you decide how much of the deposit they get back?
8

That was the job of the broker, and he had his flunkee do the turnover, and he didn’t do a walk thru or punch out or anything. He looked at the place, and said everything was fine. I found out when the next tennant moved in and complained about a list of things in disrepair. I am now seeking a property mgr. for two units. (I live in another state).