Source: https://ecode360.com/32392412
Timestamp: 2020-02-27 21:31:13
Document Index: 117242990

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 715', '§ 715', '§ 715', '§ 715', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4']

City of Sparta, MO Utility Bills &ndash; Landlord Liability, When
§ 715.010 Landlord Responsible For Utility Bills.
§ 715.020 Delinquent Accounts.
§ 715.030 Penalty; Severability; Effective Date.
§ 715.040 Landlord Options.
Chapter 715 Utility Bills – Landlord Liability, When
Section 715.010 Landlord Responsible For Utility Bills.
Section 715.020 Delinquent Accounts.
Section 715.030 Penalty; Severability; Effective Date.
Section 715.040 Landlord Options.
[Ord. No. 536 § 1, 5-24-2016]
Every property owner shall be responsible for any utility charges or fees left unpaid by any tenant of the premises served by the water or sewer utility. However, when an occupant is delinquent more than ninety (90) days, the owner shall not be liable for sums due for more than ninety (90) days of service. Further, where the landlord or property owner fails to pay the utility charges, the City may refuse to provide any water service to the property with the delinquent charge even in the name of a subsequent tenant or new owner of the property.
[Ord. No. 536 § 2, 5-24-2016]
When a tenant is delinquent in payment for thirty (30) days, the City shall make a good faith effort to notify the owner of the premises receiving such service of the delinquency and the amount thereof. Any notice of termination of service shall be sent to both the occupant and owner of the premises receiving such service. When an occupant is delinquent more than ninety (90) days, the owner shall not be liable for sums due for more than ninety (90) days of service.
[Ord. No. 536 § 3, 5-24-2016]
This Chapter shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval, except that landlords will not be liable for unpaid delinquent utility bills incurred before the effective date of this Chapter, unless the utility customer remains a tenant of the landlord for ninety (90) days past the effective date of this Chapter. The provisions of this Chapter are severable, as provided in Section 1.140 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Those provisions of this Chapter which establish an offense, are subject to the general penalty provisions provided by law, that is a penalty of zero dollars ($0.00) to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or zero (0) to ninety (90) days in jail, or both a fine and a jail sentence.
[Ord. No. 536 § 4, 5-24-2016]
To assist landlords in determining that their tenants have responsibly paid their obligations, the City offers property owners the following options, which a landlord may select provided he/she does so in writing sent directly to the City Hall. In the absence of a written exercise of any of these options, the City shall continue its present billing and collection practices.
Deposit. The City normally charges a utility deposit of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). Any landlord may require that the deposit for his/her tenants be increased by one hundred percent (100%) to two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or by two hundred percent (200%) to three hundred seventy-five dollars ($375.00) and that utility service not be provided until the entire deposit is paid. (If the City should raise its utility deposit in the future, the one hundred percent (100%) or two hundred percent (200%) increases would be adjusted accordingly). If the City should fail to follow this instruction, the landlord shall be relieved of that portion of the charge that would have been paid if the correct deposit had been charged.
The City normally permits a delinquent utility account to accumulate for weeks or even months past the due date, if it appears that the customer is making a reasonable effort to pay the account. Any landlord may request that any or all of his/her tenants be immediately disconnected from utility service upon failure to pay an account by the due date. If the City should fail to follow this request, the failure will not relieve the landlord of his/her obligation to pay the delinquent account. However, the landlord may elect option (3) below, and determine for himself/herself that the City has followed his/her direction and notify the City of any failure.