Q: Who is responsible for this utility bill?
had utilities in my name for a rental property my daughter was living in for 2 years. Her lease ended last may and she has since moved. When she moved i called utility companys and had things switched out of my name. My issue is that the city bill (water, sewer, garbage etc) had apparently not been taken out of my name. The bills had always come out automatically and i did not notice until the beginning of this month that i had still been paying the $140ish a month for previous 9 months. I contacted city hall ( live in a very small town) and they had no record of me calling end of last april but told me to bring in a copy of my daughter's lease. She does not have it anymore. I then contacted the owner of the house she had rented ( has been vacant since due to landlord remodeling and trying to sell). When i asked him for a copy to give to the city he stated that he would not give me a copy because " he doesnt want to get involvednd" and that he is in no way responsible for that $1400
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In this situation, it's important to review the terms of the lease agreement between your daughter and the landlord regarding utility payments. Typically, lease agreements outline who is responsible for utility bills during the tenancy period. If the lease specifies that the tenant (your daughter) is responsible for utility payments, then she would likely be responsible for the outstanding utility bill.
If the lease agreement is not available, you may need to explore other options to resolve the issue. For instance, you could try contacting your daughter to see if she has any documentation or information related to the lease agreement that could help clarify the responsibility for utility payments. Additionally, you may want to consult with a legal advisor or mediator to explore potential solutions and determine your rights and obligations in this matter.
It's also worth discussing the situation directly with the utility company and explaining the circumstances surrounding the billing discrepancy. They may be able to provide guidance or assistance in resolving the issue, such as reviewing past payment records or adjusting the billing account based on new information. Overall, resolving utility billing disputes often requires careful communication, documentation, and, if necessary, legal support to reach a satisfactory resolution.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
