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Re: utilities - Landlord Forum thread 186828

Re: utilities by Laura (PA) on September 10, 2009 @22:37

                              
I am in PA and yes, we must provide water and sewage, but we know how much the water company charges per month for XX amount of water, so we can just add that amount to the rent to cover that cost. HOWEVER, in my lease--which is an LPA lease by the way---I add the clause that if the water bill is ever over that certain amount, it is the tenants responsibility to pay the overage. Very rarely does anyone go over the 3000 gallon per month standard, but it is good to know that is IS LEGAL to charge for this, and yes, if the tenant fails to pay they CAN be evicted for the lease violation----after all, why should I have to pay for water I don't use.
But BEWARE, you cannot just put the water in the tenants name and assume they will pay....if you do that and they don't pay, YOU are still responsible for the bill. So it is just easier to leave it in your name and add the standard amount to the rent with the clause that anything over $XX is the tenants responsibility.
Also remember, if you let the water be shut off it could be construed as a constructive eviction and then you could be in trouble. Either way, the water is the landlord's responsibility, just make sure you have a lease that covers your butt for any deadbeat you may get.
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