I’m buying a house and renting the town house I live in now. Do I keep my name on the utilities?

bee g: I’m buying a house and renting the town house I live in now. Do I keep my name on the utilities?
I’m asking for rent + utilities for my townhouse. Do the renters pay me for the utilities and I pay the bills, or do I remove my name from all the utilities and let them pay for it directly. (Cable, Internet, Heating, Electric, etc.)

Answers and Views:

Answer by CSUflyer
That’s up to you but I would advise that you let them take care of it so that you aren’t liable if they don’t pay you. Also it is easier for them to decide whether they even want cable, internet, etc.

Answer by lyndsie
NO! Remove your name from the utilities BEFORE the tenants move in. If you leave your name on the utilities and they don’t pay those bills, you will be liable for everything. Do not put yourself in the position to get taken advantage of.

Answer by boston857
You are better fo charging basic rent to cover mortgage, insuranec and taxes and getting the tenant to take over the utility accounts……

Answer by Scott
Have the new renters put utilities in their name. Even if friends, do this to protect yourself. If not, and they move, you are liable for a money due.
SCOTT

Answer by Beau R
If you leave your name on the utilities, you are responsible if they run the bill up, and don’t pay you, or just move out. If you specify that they are to pay the utilities, then make them put their name on them. If you are renting, and including utilities, then raise the rent high enough to cover the bills.

Answer by thenchanted_one
Close all accounts except water at the townhouse. Your renter is responsible for all except water (that’s the norm; you can have them be responsible for water as well if you want). Do this before renting the home. The renter(s) will have to have all utilities connected in their name before moving in.

Answer by bruceovf
Let the renters pay for their own utilities directly. You do not want to get stuck with any bills if they run out. Plus if they are not paying for gas, electric, water, etc they could be wasteful, costing you money.

And you should never include cable, internet, phone etc in a rental agreement.

Answer by John
In almost all cases you want them to pay directly. That way if they do not pay the utility company deals with them direct.

If they are going to skip you want to out the least possible.

Note there is an exception for some landlords. If the utility company can put a lien on the property even when the tenant does not pay then some landlords prefer to deal with the boll directly and collect from the tenant. Not very common at all but it has been done.