Landord asking for my Uliity Bills paid up for the day I move out??

Hello,
I have rent a house from a private person who is very controlling-I am moving out tomorrow and the landord is making for the following
"copy of all utility bills that are paid for
usage till May 31, 2008. Once I receive them I will be
mailing you deposit check"
What is it any of their business to me my personal mail-
I have already called the Ulity companies to send my final bill to my new address.
The landaord is just dying for a reason to keep my $1800.00 depoist......any advice??
so, if I do not give me the bill-will the landlord pay all my bills for me with my depoist-wow! I can save on stamps....

Nothing funny about that, if you don't pay the landlord is stuck with the bill. He won't give up the leverage until he knows things are done as per agreement. I would do the same and I hope you would as well, it's good business.

Sorry not to agree, but that's the facts, and if he was pulling something I'd be talking about how to deal with him, but if it were me I'd just dot the i's and cross the t's so you can get the deposit back.

If he does try to keep it without good reason or doesn't inform you why within a certain time, depending on the state, you can sue for triple damages on that in most states.

It is very possible that your landlord is within his rights to withhold your deposit until all utilities are paid. In some areas, the municipality owns and operates the utilities. In such areas, unpaid bills default to the owner of the property if YOU do not pay for them. Where I have my rentals, this is the case with water and refuse removal. Electricity and gas are independently provided. Hence, I pay the final water bills for the property, and then deduct the amount paid from the security refund.

If the utilities are in your name, it makes no difference to the landlord and has no consequence to your security deposit. The utility company will not go after him for any unpaid bills you left behind. Send him written notice (certified or return receipt) stating the same. You could include a copy of your most recent utility bill to prove this point if you feel it would help. Gotta say--this is a new level of retention....

If the bills are in your name, he does not have any right to request that. He cannot withold your deposit for this - that money is not owed to him even if you did not pay your electric bill.

Tell him to ask the utility company himself - if he is so concerned, they should be able to provide him with information reguarding the residence.

I have had to pay utility bills that former tenants didn't pay when they moved out. Not all areas/utilities operate like that, but where some of my rental properties are located, they do. So yes, I will not be releasing security deposits back until it is confirmed one way or the other that all of the utilities have been paid in full.

Most states have a law that Landlord's have to follow and they don't include anything about utility bills that you pay on your own. Unless it is stated in your lease agreement that you have to provide the bills before the deposit is returned. The law says that the Landlord has 30 days from the date you move out to do an inspection and return your security deposit minus any damages. The Landlord has to offer you an opportunity to do a final walk thru to assess damages with them. Then he has to itemize these damages in writing showing what he/she is with-holding from your $1800 security deposit and return any portion unused for damages.

I would suggest searching your state Attorney General's office and see what kind of landlord/tenant laws exist, then I would hold your Landlord to the letter of the law.

Good luck!

I think it would be worth it to have a lawyer write him a letter to scare the living p*ss out of him. Don't pay more than $300 for this. You have $1800 at stake and this is worth it. This is simply outrageous and you have to stand up for yourself and expose this idiot. You might want to involve your local news station too--sometimes they'll have a consumer watchdog reporter.

It's true that if you left that address with an unpaid balance, the next tenant might have to prove to the utility company that they are not you, usually by providing a copy of the rental agreement and maybe paying an extra deposit. Ridiculous, but nonetheless it doesn't amount to $1800 worth of trouble.

Good luck and I hope you hamstring this bonehead!