One of the best things about renting? Not having to replace a hot water heater. Major headache (and price tag)! ♨️🫠 One of the worst things? Headaches caused by upstairs neighbors. Why do they always have such heavy feet (and poor musical taste)? 😵💫
Speaking of headaches, there’s a new bill flying around in Ohio. While it would help landlords, renters in the Buckeye state could take a hit right in the paycheck. 💸
Here’s Five Fast Facts on the newly proposed bill:
- 🏘️ Take It to the House - If it goes through, House Bill 93 would require cities to collect unpaid utility bills directly from renters. Right now, the state of Ohio allows local municipalities to collect unpaid utility costs from anyone liable for rents or charges. This rule allows utility companies to hit up landlords if they don’t have luck recouping the money from renters.
- 🏃 Ding Dong Ditch - Supporters of the bill say it’s unfair for landlords to cover a renter’s utility bills. Renters familiar with the law sometimes take advantage of it and leave the landlord on the hook for unpaid charges. This could lead to landlords charging higher rents to tenants across the board to offset costs.
- 💻 Risky Business - Those against the bill say landlords should be responsible for properly vetting tenants and managing non-payment risk through background checks and security deposits. Landlords also have a closer eye on tenants than utility companies (i.e. they know when people move in and out and can track them down for missed payments).
- 💰 Guac is Extra - Another potential con: utility companies charging extra fees to help recover from unpaid bills. For example, a water company may start to require a security deposit from a renter before turning their water on. These extras put more of a burden on renters’ budgets.
- ⏰ Right Down to the Wire - Back in 2022, a similar bill made it through the OH house, but the Senate nixed it. A similar bill passed the Ohio House in 2022 but did not pass the Senate. House Bill 93 has until the end of the year to become official law or it’ll have to be reintroduced next year under a new legislative session.
🔥Bottom line: People really should be paying their own utility bills. When they don’t, someone else always pays the price. Whether it’s landlords or responsible renters footing the bill, it stinks no matter how you cut the cheese! Wanna start 2025 off with a bang? Take a look at these year-end financial tips and get your ducks in a row.
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