[SaxxonWoods]

“Bad strategy to ever put tenant utilities in your name.”

If they can’t pay the utilities to the utility company, how will they pay them to you? The reason for the problem is they can’t afford the deposit required for people with bad credit.

The only way to rent to people with bad credit (shouldn’t) anyway) is to charge them a double or triple deposit. That will run them off usually.

Even if a tenant puts utilities in their name, and if they don’t pay, the the utilities will be put back under your name and you get to pay. You won’t be responsible for what they didn’t pay however. But your lease should state any rent paid will first be applied to rental late fees or late utility payments. That way they still owe you some rent, and can be evicted for nonpayment. That’s for the ones that try to give you a few hundred and stall.

[gcparent]

Only time I ever kept utilities in my name was for 3 months summer rental. I had same tenant 7 summers. Yes a NYC college professor. Best tenant I ever had. Treated the place like her own.

[PeterPrinciple]

“Bad strategy to ever put tenant utilities in your name.”
If they can’t pay the utilities to the utility company, how will they pay them to you?

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The sad fact is you are on the hook as property owner anyway.
They don’t have to reconnect the utilities if not paid.

[JimRed]

The only way to rent to people with bad credit (shouldn’t) anyway) is to charge them a double or triple deposit. That will run them off usually.

Check your state laws first; it is illegal to do that in some states.