Can unpaid utility bills be deducted from a security deposit paid?
Thats an interesting question. Legally I believe you can only deduct from the deposit those fees required to be paid by the tenant that are specified in the lease. So yes if they are specified in the lease. However, in Phila., there was a law passed allowing utility companies, gas, and electric, to file liens against the address of tenants that didnt pay their bills. This law was fought by landlords and eventually overturned, but I believe in this situation, unspecified fees could be deducted from the rental deposit. It is, however, some what of a moot point because these unpaid bills do not come to the landlords, and usually come 3040 days after the tenant moves out.