Hey guys and gals, just a word of warning, if you're renting from a private landlord make them put the utilities in their name. I've been in a place for 12 months and fell victim to this trap. Landlord didn't have any of the utilities in his name and so I ended up having to sign up for everything and have had an awful time collecting payment from the other people that the landlord stuck in the apartment. I've lost over 300 dollars on this, so don't get screwed over like I've been. Force the landlord to put the utilities in their name before you sign a lease and make sure it's in writing.

4/26/2007 6:49:17 PM

unfortunately that's what happens when you live with deadbeats. And 99% of the time landlords won't put them in their name specifically for this reason.

4/26/2007 6:50:21 PM

there is always someone like you that will pay it all

4/26/2007 6:54:54 PM

More like Omacryn

4/26/2007 6:58:34 PM

so your landlord forced you to have roomates or something? i dont get it

4/26/2007 7:03:06 PM

I agree that if your not the one picking the roomates you should not be responsible for them paying. I am surprised that you did not think of this before it became an issue though.

I charge my roomates flat rent to rent from me. That way they no one has to worry about collecting utility money, and no one bitches about running the air conditioner or leaving a bathroom light on. It makes life so peaceful.

4/26/2007 7:04:36 PM

don't move into a place were you don't know the roomates especially if all the shit is going to be in your name.

4/26/2007 7:14:22 PM

Quote :

"if you're renting from a private landlord make them put the utilities in their name"

haha, good luck with that. i would laugh in your face, as will every other landlord unless they do an all inclusive deal on the rent amount.

4/26/2007 7:16:19 PM

Get utilities in everyones name that way everyone has equal responsibilities. My old roommate and I had both our names on everything and it worked out great.

4/26/2007 7:25:38 PM

^ thats not any better. When everyones name is on it all that this means is that any of the 3 people are held responsible to pay the entire bill.

Hence, if a bill comes and one roomate is mia then the whole bill still has to be paid in full by the others.

The best solution here is to know who your going to live with extremely well before doing it.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 7:38 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2007 7:38:24 PM

Quote :

" don't move into a place were you don't know the roomates especially if all the shit is going to be in your name."

exactly. dont live somwhere where the landlord can stick people in there at will, thats just asking for trouble. look for roomate wanted ads and meet people or place your own and screen people or whatever.

and yeah, good luck forcing a landlord to put utilities in his name for a house where he doesn't live (that is unless the rent is all inclusive)

4/26/2007 8:00:03 PM

Quote :

"I've lost over 300 dollars on this, so don't get screwed over like I've been."

If you think losing $300 is getting "screwed over" in this world, you are in for a major shock when someone actually does screw your naive ass over.

4/26/2007 8:07:25 PM

other than changing your credit, it doesn't matter who's name it's in.....if the bill isn't paid, the utility gets cut off

4/26/2007 8:42:28 PM

Credit is for pussies. Real playas pay straight cash biotch

4/26/2007 9:08:17 PM

My husband and I have both rented from private landlords in the past and all 4 of them had us put the utilities in our name. It doesn't make any sense for a private landlord to put the utilities in their name because some people will inevitably run up a bill and not pay it. It's not a trap -- it's just the way it's done.

4/26/2007 9:22:46 PM

I think what he should say is "Make the landlord put the utilities in their name if they insist on sticking you with random roommates"

4/27/2007 12:03:22 PM

why not put cable in your name, electric in another, etc etc etc?

4/27/2007 12:05:02 PM

"Make the landlord put the utilities in their name if they insist on sticking you with random roommates"

4/27/2007 12:05:28 PM

I've never heard of a landlord putting the utilities in their name. I can't see anyone being that dumb.

4/27/2007 3:00:33 PM

Simple if you are renting an apartment by the room you can charge flat rent.

4/27/2007 3:16:28 PM

The only problem with having the utilities in the landlord's name is that it is much easier to hike the prices up to an unknowing renter. For instance, the bills could be $45 but the landlord could say that they are $55. I've seen it happen before. The best way to get around this is to request copies of bills but this adds to the reasons landlords won't have bills in their names because of all the hassle.

4/27/2007 9:02:09 PM

Quote :

"why not put cable in your name, electric in another, etc etc etc?"

Best way to do it IMO, and the way I've done it with roommates I've had in the past. That way one person doesn't get stuck with all the bills. If one person is a deadbeat, the service might get cut off, but then the other roommates can demand that they pay it or be kicked out.

Of course, it's a better idea to room with people you know in the first place. But I understand that isn't always practical, and that sometimes someone who is a good friend/coworker/classmate may turn out to be a shitty roommate.

4/27/2007 10:01:55 PM

stop living at lake park

4/28/2007 12:25:12 AM