Am I responsible for reconnection charges aa well as the entire electric bill that is under my housemate’s sublet’s name?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Am I responsible for reconnection charges aa well as the entire electric bill that is under my housemate’s sublet’s name?
I was living with A,B and C. A and B are sublets of former housemate. We set up electricity service under A’s name and B (A’s girlfriend) were supposed to pay the bill using her credit card. However, they disappeared within few weeks. Now, 3 months later, B told me to pay 3 month bill including deposits, late fee, electricity, etc (I and C were supposed to pay only for electricity). I transferred what I supposed to pay to her bank account but she did not pay yet. As a result, the electricity company will shut off service unless I pay the entire bill. How can I proceed?
Asked on June 5, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Sublets are contractually in privity with the first tenant. You need to sue the first tenant for the money after you pay the electricity bill, ask the bill be changed to your name and make sure you contact your bank to reverse the funds from what you paid to B. Ultimately, they are obligated to a whole lot of people but the one who is mainly obligated to you is the one who sublet to A and B.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.