Austin Property Management Blog

When it comes to rental properties, one of the biggest questions is, “Are landlords responsible for unpaid utility bills?” However, the answer isn’t always simple–usually, it depends on several factors, like your lease agreement and whose name the utility accounts are in. Today, we’ll review who’s typically responsible for utility bills, what happens if a tenant leaves without paying, and how to avoid getting stuck with unpaid bills.

Key Takeaways:

● Whether landlords are responsible for unpaid utility bills depends on the lease agreement and whose name the accounts are in.

● If utilities are in the landlord’s name, they may be liable for unpaid bills, but they can deduct costs from the tenant’s security deposit.

● Clear lease terms, regular inspections, and good communication can help landlords avoid getting stuck with unpaid utility bills.

Who Is Typically Responsible for Utility Bills?

Typically, the responsibility for utility bills depends on your lease agreement. Sometimes, the landlord is responsible; sometimes, tenants pay the bills, and other times, there are special circumstances. Ultimately, it all depends on what’s outlined in the lease agreement. Here’s how it usually breaks down.

• If Utilities Are in the Landlord’s Name - When the utilities are in the landlord’s nam...

Planning to take the next step and move out of your childhood home? Or are you moving to a new city for a potential job opportunity? Whatever the reason may be, the rising housing costs and living expenses can put real pressure on your finances. Now, getting a roommate to split the bills is one effective way to save money. But more than that, what else could the advantages of having a roommate be? Continue reading to find out! 

1. Shared Rent = Lower Housing Costs

First and foremost, one of the most evident benefits of living with a roommate is that you can significantly save up on rent and other bills. Regardless of whether you’re sharing a small apartment with one roommate or a single-family home with several others, having roommates can significantly lower your housing costs.  

Based on our experience as property managers in Austin

When you rent a house or an apartment, you expect to have all the basic necessities in place. You expect to have heat and air conditioning, running water, and locks on the door. The question is, do landlords have to provide hot water as well? To settle this, here’s a comprehensive review of your rights as a tenant and your landlord’s responsibilities when it comes to providing hot water in their rental properties.

3 Key Takeaways

• Texas landlords are legally mandated to provide their tenants with hot water in their rental properties.
• In case of hot water issues, landlords are given a reasonable time to fix the problem.
• Communicating early signs of hot water problems is key to timely repair and avoiding added inconveinence.

What the Law Says (and Where It Applies)

Based on our experience in property management in Austin, we’ve encountered cases where both tenants and landlords are unclear about their responsibilities. When this happens, it’s always best to just go back and review what the lease, federal law, and state regulations have to say about it. 

Now, according to the implied warranty of habitabilit...