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b0bb1 · Apr 17, 2007, 10:47 AM

I have a rental in a home I own in Fl brevard county to be exact is there anything I can do about a tenant who is behind on their rent and not to mention I have water utility bill in my name still which they were supposed to have transferred to their name I also notified water company and Im not sure why it wasn't ever transferred but I now have found out they have not paid that bill as well as the water has been shut off due to non payment and they tapped back into the water and is stealing water from the water co which I will be liable for so is there any immediate action I can take against them ?

ballengerb1 · Apr 17, 2007, 11:15 AM

If you know for a fact that they have done an illegal tap you should report them to the water co. They will get after them. Make sure that the warter bill is no longer in your name. I would strongly consider starting eviction process. It can take up to two months to get them out.

Fr_Chuck · Apr 17, 2007, 11:19 AM

If they are behind on their rent, you give them official notice, and if they don't pay up or move, you go to the courthouse and file to evict them.

Leaving the water in your name makes you responsible for the water bill till it was disconnected for non payment ( and of course hurts your credit, since it was your water that was turned off.

You report them fort he illegal tap.

You will have to sue them in small claims court for back rents and the water bill.

ScottGem · Apr 17, 2007, 11:21 AM

Yes, you need to immediately inform the water company that the tenant is responsible and your name should be taken off the account. You probably will be responsible for bring the account up to date, though. Send the water company a letter to that effect. Send a copy of that letter to the tenant, informing them that they owe you the amount you paid to make it current. You can sue them for that amount.

If they shut the water off after that, it will be clear it's the tenant's fault.

And you should start eviction proceedings.

b0bb1 · Apr 17, 2007, 03:47 PM

yea I reported them to water co and made sure to have them disconect the water but the water company says that they can not remove the meter yet and because of that if they tap back into the water they can do nothing about it so Im wondering if this alone is grounds enough to get them out

ballengerb1 · Apr 17, 2007, 03:59 PM

Nope, just because they steal water it isn't grounds for eviction. Not paying you the rent is plenty of grounds. I would do it now because they are going to wake up honest tomorrow.

ScottGem · Apr 17, 2007, 04:15 PM

I'm confused. Why would they need to remove the meter? The house still needs water. All you want is to get your name off the account. You do NOT want them to stop the water on your say so. You want them to stop the water because the tenant isn't paying the bill. If they stop it on your say so, you wioll have created an unliveable condition for which you might be fined or sued.

b0bb1 · Apr 17, 2007, 04:24 PM

OK this is why because even though the account is suspended and disconnected since I own the home I will still be responsible and billed for any water being used illegally