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    Kmccros53's Avatar
    Kmccros53 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    May 3, 2012, 10:21 AM
    Shut off my utilities?
    Can my landlord shut off my utilities if I fail to put them in my name as the lease states?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    May 3, 2012, 10:24 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Kmccros53 View Post
    Can my landlord shut off my utilities if I fail to put them in my name as the lease states?
    They wouldn't be turning off YOUR utilities... they would be terminating their own since you had legally agreed to get them on your own in your name. And have had ample time to do so.

    Huge difference between the two. Unless your lease specifies its WITH utilities... then its common and customary to put them into your own name... and thus YOUR responsibility as the renter. Every place I've ever rented that did not include utilities... we were required to put them in our name. Why have you not done so yet? It doesn't take long. Little more than a couple phone calls.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #3

    May 3, 2012, 10:38 AM
    I agree. If the lease specifically states that you are responsibility for switching the utilities to your name, then the landlord is simply terminating his account. If you don't follow through on your agreement and find yourself without utilities that is your own fault. The landlord is not responsible for determining whether you did switch them over. Since you agreed to when you signed the lease he is within his rights to assume you did.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #4

    May 3, 2012, 11:26 AM
    Yes, if the lease states that you are to turn them on in your name, he may stop them anytime and also bill you for any usage you did before they were out of his name.

    Most landlords leave them on for a few days to a week to give you a chance to change them over.

    Your confusion I will guess is if he is paying for them as part of the rental, and you merely pay so much a month, to include them. At that point he can not turn them off. But this is entirely different.
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