[mckymse1]

I was leasing a home in Ohio and broke the leasse. Each month the landlord brought the utility bills to me and I paid him for my share. I know that if I break the lease I have to continue to pay rent until he leases the home again. Do I have to continue to pay my share of the utilities?

[landlord advocate]

I was leasing a home in Ohio and broke the leasse. Each month the landlord brought the utility bills to me and I paid him for my share. I know that if I break the lease I have to continue to pay rent until he leases the home again. Do I have to continue to pay my share of the utilities?

In the state of Ohio, the person's whose name the utility is in, is the person who is ultimately responsible to pay the utility. You may have something written in your lease stating that you intend to share the expense with the other tenant. It sounds good, but it does not follow the Ohio Revised Code. You didn't mention which utility. If it is water, most of the Ohio water providers refuse to put the account in the name of the tenant. Therefore, the landlord often splits the bill among the two or three families that live in a home, or in the case of an apartment building the landlord pays the water. There are exceptions. Some utilities will allow the tenant to place a deposit with the utility company and the court has agreed to consider it in their name if the bill comes "In care of". It will depend on the city in which you live, what utility it is and the type of rental property. If you can provide additional details, I can pin point your specific question. Several municipalities are attempting to pass a law that the landlord is responsible for ANY utility not paid in full by the tenant. They intend to enforce this by not turning the utility back on if there is an outstanding balance. This hasn't happened yet, but it would be a real problem for landlords. It goes against the Ohio Revised Code, so whether it will come about is anyone's guess.

As far as the rent, yes you will be responsible for the rent until the property is occupied by another tenant or the lease ends, whichever comes first. You will also be responsible for any expenses incurred to re-rent the property. This may include the cost of advertising, re-painting, cleaning etc. Your landlord will probably present you with the utility bills as well, since you have covered them in the past. Whether you pay them is up to you.

[mckymse1]

The landlord has all utilities in his name for the home I was renting from him. I pay utilities to him when he presents me with the bill. No where in the lease does it say that I am responsible for utilties if I break the lease. All it says is that I have to pay rent until the end of the lease or he finds a new tenant. The only thing I can find about utilities is the following " Security deposit will be returned when the home is left in good condition, keys are returned and all utilities are paid." I don't think that means that I have to pay for gas, electric, water and sewer until the new tenant moves in on March 17th. I should only have to pay for the utilities while I was in the home correct?