Bill Would Make Only Tenants Responsible for Utility Bills
STATE HOUSE–If you own a house and have to kick a renter out, you can be responsible for the bills, even if they run up after the tenant leaves. A bill that passed the Indiana House may make the utility companies charge the renter directly.
Smaller communities can pass ordinances that place the responsibility for tenants’ unpaid utilities on property owners, said State Rep. Woody Burton (R-Whiteland). He said the local ordinances tie the hands of landlords who have limited options to prevent high bills.
“Aside from a lengthy and costly eviction process, property owners who are fully responsible for utility services have few options to prevent tenants from racking up excessive bills,” said Burton, in a news release. “Unlike utility companies that are able to hold customers accountable by terminating services for nonpayment, landlords are stuck paying, even if they are not receiving money from their tenants.”
Burton’s legislation would require utility companies owned by cities to bill renters directly for services for gas, lights, or water, unless the landlord and renter come to a separate agreement.
“Shifting the responsibility away from the tenant unfairly burdens the property owner,” Burton said. “While most renters pay on time and in full, some can rack up several months’ worth of unpaid bills that landlords could be held accountable for paying. This legislation would ensure that the person using the service, pays for the service.”
House Bill 1347 can now be considered by the Senate.
PHOTO: Chris Davis/Emmis
