Full question:
In Ohio, for a commercial property, can a public utility hold the landlord reponsible for the delinquent utility bill that was in the tenant's name. The city of Bethel has an ordinance (1290) on their books that says they can and they are threatening to turn it over to the county auditor for collection. As the landlord, we never made any agreement with the utility that we would be responsible for the utilities in the event of our tenant default, nor were we notified of any delinquency until now, five months after the account became delinquent.
- Category: Contracts
- Date:
- State: Ohio
Answer:
In some areas, property owners can be held responsible for certain utility bills. Local ordinances, like the one in Bethel, can enforce this responsibility, even if the property owner was unaware of the law. If you are found responsible, you must pay the bill to avoid a lien on your property. You may also want to pursue the former tenant to recover the amount they owe you. Some utility companies require property owners to guarantee tenant payments, meaning they can pursue the owner for unpaid bills. If the owner fails to pay, a lien may be placed on the property. Check if opting out of this obligation is possible. Additionally, ensure that any payments made are recorded as being from you, not the tenant. The tenant may be unable to secure service elsewhere until they settle their debt with the utility company, which might also refund your payment.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.