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Council reviews large utility write-off tied to a rental account; staff to research landlord-responsibility options
Summary
Council examined a nearly $500 account write-off tied to a rental unit and discussed increasing renter-deposit or adopting landlord-certification policies; staff noted legal limits on collecting from homeowners not party to the water contract and offered to research options used in other cities.
Council reviewed a utility write-off (account 28186) that staff said resulted from a multi-month delinquency for a rental property and included shutoff and late fees. Staff noted the renter water deposit is $2.55 and that the charged balance in the example reached roughly $500 due to multiple months of consumption and compounded late fees. "The renter water deposit is $2.55," a council member said while reviewing the account details.
City staff (Speaker 6) told the council there are limits to collecting from a homeowner who was not party to the water contract and offered to research landlord-certification programs and other options used by neighboring cities. The council directed staff to examine best practices and bring recommendations on whether the city can require landlord certification or other contractual mechanisms to reduce write-offs.
