Q: Do you have to let landlord know you terminated your So Cal Edison account when your lease ends?
Our lease ended 9/30. We had the electric company close our acct at end of day. We were to have a walk through that evening; the landlord canceled it.
He notified us 10/7* of water damage to the floor (ice in ice maker melted because the power was not in anyone's name as of 10/1 - he did not put in his name). He said we were responsible as we did not transfer the electricity to his name. He didn't asked us to do this, it is not in the lease, and companies don't usually allow you to put a bill in some one else's name, we explained via email response.
10/12 he emailed and said we were required to notify him in writing if we made utility changes - this is not in the lease and he didn't email or verbally ask us. he offered to "only" charge us half the deposit - $1250.
What is a tenant's responsibility re. electricity when a lease ends? Do we need an attorney? Deposit should be returned by 10/21.
*He didn't enter the unit for several days - unsure how many.
A:
Funny, the exact same thing happened to some people in LA. Your lease controls your rights and obligations. Normally both of these end when the lease ends, except for the right to a return of your security deposit unused, or an accounting. Tell the LL, no. You want a proper accounting. Prepare to sue him in Small Claims, prepare a brief with exhibits. Hopefully since he cancelled the walk thru, you took lots of photos, including around the freezer/fridge showing no damage to the floor. Read the Civil Code about Landlord/tenant found in the section "obligations" there is a penalty for wrongful withholding of a deposit, doubling what is being withheld. Prepare copies of all relevant documents. He notified you of your right to a pre move out inspection, correct? if no, he may not be entitled to any recovery.
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