Q: Can the tentants make us pay for their water bill ?
We owned a home and it was rented. When the tenants left they forgot to turn the water bill off and they got an extremely high water bill and they want us to pay for it. We didn't vacate the property after they left, no one was living there. When we sold it we paid a company to do a pressure washing (about 6 days later after they left) it was just one side of the house and it didn't take more than 15 mins. Other than that we didn't use the water. Who is responsible for that water bill ?
A: The water department wherever you live is sending the bill to whoever applied for the service. If that was you as homeowner, you owe the bill. However, if you had the tenant take over the water service and the account is in their name, they owe the bill. If you just rented the house to them and did not change the water billing to them, then you still owe the bill and will have to go after and sue the tenants for reimbursement. They ran the bill up and should pay it, but if you allowed the billing to remain in your name, then you are still responsible.
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