Q: Responsibility for unpaid utility bill after leaseholder's death in NY
My mother recently passed away on January 28, 2025. I have been living in our apartment as an occupant, but she was the leaseholder. She always handled the bills, but I discovered she hadn’t paid the Con Edison bill for a long time, and now it’s up to $8,000. She left no money or assets. I've reached out to Con Edison, but since I wasn’t the account holder, they are insisting that I pay the bill because I shared the space. They are threatening to close the account and not let me open a new one. What can I do in this situation?
A:
Dear Manhattan Tenant:
This issue is not strictly a landlord and tenant matter--but it seems at least for the moment--you are at the mercy of Con Ed.
Read the information at:
https://everloved.com/articles/post-death-logistics/how-to-handle-utility-bills-after-someone-dies/
Get in touch with the public service commission.
Daniel Michael Luisi agrees with this answer
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