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Stuart council reviews state rules on renter/owner utility accounts
Summary
Town Manager Bryce Simmons summarized VA Code § 15.2-2119.4, which requires landlord authorization to put utilities in a tenant’s name, limits landlord lien rights to three months of delinquent charges, requires use of security deposits and state debt setoff before holding landlords responsible, and preserves landlord subrogation rights if they pay delinquent bills.
Town Manager Bryce Simmons told the Stuart Town Council on Feb. 18 that the town’s proposed renter/owner utility agreement would be governed by Virginia law, specifically VA Code § 15.2-2119.4. He said the statute requires written landlord authorization before utilities can be placed in a tenant’s name and limits a landlord’s ability to be held responsible to up to three months of delinquent water and sewer charges.
Simmons said the town must pursue specified collection steps before assessing a landlord, including applying tenant security deposits and using the state debt-setoff program. He added that if a landlord pays a tenant’s delinquent bill, the landlord then gains subrogation rights to pursue the tenant for repayment.
The council asked questions but took no formal action on an ordinance or amendment; Simmons presented the statutory framework for future policy work. The discussion gives the town a legal baseline to use while drafting local procedures and any agreements with landlords. No vote was recorded on a change to policy at the Feb. 18 meeting.
