Relating to utilities at rental properties and landlords’ ability to use security deposits to satisfy delinquent utility accounts

This bill relates to utilities at rental properties. Under current law, an owner or landlord may request to receive a copy of the written notice of delinquent rates or charges sent by a city utility or enterprise service to an account holder. The bill specifies that such notice must be provided to the owner or landlord within days of the delinquency. Under current law, for a residential or commercial rental property to be exempt from a lien for delinquent rates or charges imposed by a city utility or enterprise, a landlord must provide the name of a tenant who is responsible for charges to the city utility or enterprise when the tenant is delinquent in paying rates or charges. A landlord must provide a new notice if a tenant that is responsible for a delinquency moves out. The bill removes the requirement that a landlord provide the name of a tenant that is responsible for a delinquency in a notice to a city utility or enterprise. The bill removes the requirement that a landlord provide a new notice to a city utility or enterprise if the tenant responsible for a delinquency moves out. The bill provides that the landlord may withhold from a tenant’s security deposit amounts as reasonably necessary to pay for delinquent utility accounts the tenant was responsible to pay during the tenancy.