Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Utility company using landlord as leverage.

Hi,

I have some problems with one of the utility companies. On

occaision my payments and their late notices have crossed

paths in the mail. Before I get a chance to respond, they have

contacted my landlord at an apartment complex and threatened

to collect from them instead. This is strange because I had

not even gotten a late notice yet.

Then the landlord sends me a nasty letter saying that if I

don't pay $24.67 by X date, then they will EVICT me.

Is this legal? What can I do about the landlord putting this

in my permanent file ?(I noticed the letter said CC:File)

Thanks for any ideas or advice you may have in advance.

~KB


Asked on 9/05/02, 3:31 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Utility company using landlord as leverage.

The utilities I'm familiar with don't do this unless the building owner or landlord is a co-signer or has put up some kind of deposit or made some kind of guarantee of payment on the tenant's behalf. If this is the case, the utility's conduct is expectable.....however, the landlord's response seems unnecessarily aggressive unless he regards you as a problem tenant in some other way.

The best solution is to pay your rent the day it is due and your utility bills the day they arrive.

Read more
Answered on 9/05/02, 4:14 pm


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