Apartment question?

My neice found an apartment she liked. She submitted her application and was approved. She paid the security deposit fees and will be going in office saturday to read over lease and sign. The office personnel told her that since she is coming in on saturday to call the electric company today (friday) to have electric turned on in her name. Is this right to do since she has not even signed her lease. Is the electric companies open on the weekends to do this. What actually should be done or not before signing lease. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

It is usually not a big deal. The Landlord appears to simply want to make sure all applicalbe utilities are going to be transfered so that things dont slip during the hectic times while moving. The utility will ask you when you are moving in so they know to start the meter on that date. All previous use of electricity prior to the "official" move in date are not charged.

As long as she know's she is getting the apartment and wants to move in I'd say go for it. It seems like the landlord is just looking out for her.

Yea bcause it is not like you have to pay for it she chooses to change her mind and not move in. U should have everythng ready before time.

As long as she calls before she moves, she'll be fine. She should sign the lease first, then call and have them turn it on the day she moves in.

Is she moving in on Saturday? If so, then she needs to get the electric turned on. I called and had the electric turned on (effective) a few days before I moved in and signed the lease. You just tell the electric company what day the power starts. No big deal.

She needs to call the electric company today, but tell them to turn on in her name effective the date she actually moves in.

she should wait and sign the lease first. Most times when you move into an apartment the electricity is still on. Most electric companies give alot of time in between tenants before they shut it off

She can go ahead and have them schd. to turn them on this is to be sure that on her move in date she has electricity. she will not have to pay anything until a few days after her move in date, which by then she will have signed the lease. As far as them being open on weekends she would have to call to check its different in every city.

You can call the electric company and tell them to transfer the electric to her name on the date of move it. It shouldn't be a problem and customer service should be open. Often the apartment complex wants proof that you have open an electric account in your name when you sign the lease.

Be sure to tell her to fill in her inventory sheet thoroughly. Write down even the smallest stains or imperfections to avoid crazy charges in the future. Apartments really like to get young people on those charges.

i waited till the lease is signed b/c you never know. when i moved into the apt the electricity was already on, i just had to call them and tell them my name and when i moved in so they can start sending me the bill.

the day i moved in was when i started calling the phone company, cable, etc. you will just be a couple of days without those things till they get there.

Chances are the place has power now but just isnt in her name. If she is going to lease it I see no reason why she wouldn't jus take care of it earlier as opposed to later. Sure the Utility company is open on the weekend. What if the power goes out on a Saturday. Does it just stay off until they get around to it on Monday where you live?

I'm renting apartments years and have never had an agent say this to me.
I personally wouldn't do this UNLESS there is NO supply in the apartment ie. if its a new build.
If there is supply, then when she moves in she needs to take a reading of the meter, write it down and if the electric company is not open tommorrow, then monday will do once she has taken the reading it doesn't matter.

Depending on the town. Electric companies can take several days to turn the power on. If she isn't moving in until the beginning of the week I wouldn't call the eclectic company until Monday. They will need a lease before turn on the power anyway. With it being the fall they shouldn't be very busy. I hope this will help.

yes that is normal. she can call the electric company and have them switch it on which ever day she moves in!! :)

Why wasn't she given the lease to take home and read over! I would not have the power turned on until my move in day. Why did she give a deposit! If she does not take time to read the lease can she take it with her to have her attorney check it out. If I signed it I would insist that the date be of the coming Monday and if they can't give me that date I would not sign until that date. Have her get sick on Saturday......

Every utility company is different. Unless she thinks that she is going to object to something in the lease and there is a chance she might not take the apartment I don't see any harm in calling the electric company to switch the utilities. Also the apartment complex should be giving her a grace period in order to set up her utilities. Even if she calls today chances are the electric company will not be able to do the switch instantly. If not if she is planning on moving in over the weekend she should call today to get it switched if not call on Monday after the lease is signed. I wouldn't worry about it. If the apartment has active electric service right now. I don't think the leasing office would cut it off that quickly either. They just want to make sure they are not paying any of her utilities.

It's better to go ahead and do it today unless she has any doubt in her mind. Most apt complexes keep utilities in their names between renters, so if she moves in on Saturday and doesn't call till Monday it's still not a big deal, she should still have electricity.

It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that all previous bills have been paid and that the public utilities are switched on before a new tenant occupies the property, there are too many people who have ended up by paying the previous tenants arrears and the landlord saying it is nothing to do with them.
Don't sign any document until you have read the small print and that the above points have been established, it will be too late after the event so take heed.

The utilities should go into her name the day she signs the lease and has the keys.