If the landlord did not turn the utilities over to tenant and sends a lump sum bill for them, is the tenant still responsible?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If the landlord did not turn the utilities over to tenant and sends a lump sum bill for them, is the tenant still responsible?
Our former landlord sent us a lump sum for the utilities. This was prior to my mother, my children and myself breaking the lease due to our roommates. We were to have the bills turned over to us which the landlords never did. Now they are claiming the security deposit for the bills. Do they have the right to do so or can we sue them?
Asked on September 5, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
At the end of a lease a landlord is required to return a tenant's security deposit or any debits from it with a certain time period after the move out date (usually 21 to 45 days depending upon the state where the lease is located).
Included in the debit amount should be copies of receipts showing the reasons for the reduction from the full security deposit.
If your landlord did not send you the invoice for the utilities and reduced the amount of the utilities owed in total from your security deposit without allocating the remaining tenants' obligations for these utility bills, you are entitled to a refund for what was taken from your security deposit.
I would write your landlord about the improper debit that he made asking for a refund of what you believe is owed you. Keep a copy of the letter for future reference. If you do not receive what is owed you in the requested time period, small claims court seems to be your next option.
Good luck.
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.