14.04.194 Termination of utility service to rental dwellings – Action by utilities administration.
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The city will not take any action which encourages or permits, whether by regulation, informal policy or oral statement, the termination of water services to residential tenants occupying single-family units or individually metered multifamily units because a prior occupant of the residence owes an unpaid bill or where the tenant’s landlord has contracted for water service to the dwelling and the account is delinquent, unless the following procedures are complied with. Procedures applicable to termination of utility services to consumers other than residential tenants occupying single-family units or individually metered multifamily units are set forth in VMC 14.04.197.
A. If payment on a utility account has not been received by the twenty-fifth day after the bill date the utility division will send or mail a reminder notice to the service address, and to the address (if any) listed for the property’s owner of record or agent in the department’s file. This notice will advise that payment is past due and will alert interested parties that service may be terminated unless payment is received or arrangements acceptable to city have been made. A statement describing tenants’ rights as provided in this chapter will be presented on the back of the reminder notice.
B.
1. If payment on a utility account has not been received by the thirty-seventh day after the bill date, the utility division will send or mail a final notice to the service address, and to the address (if different) listed for the property’s owner of record or agent in the department’s file. This final notice will advise that the payment is past due and payment must be received to avoid disruption of service.
2. Such final notice shall advise that the account is past due and that service will be terminated not less than eight days from the final notice date and will advise the customer of the process for service restoration.
3. A statement describing tenants’ rights will be printed on the back of the disconnection notice.
C. The statement of tenants’ rights included with the reminder notice(s) and printed on the disconnection notice shall be substantially in the following form:
NOTICE OF TENANTS’ RIGHTS
If you are a tenant residing at the service address and water is presently being delivered to your home: You are not responsible for water and sewer utility bills incurred by a previous tenant who moved out before you moved in and you also are not responsible for water and sewer utility bills incurred by your landlord.
If this bill is the obligation of a prior tenant or your landlord, and you have made reasonable efforts to resolve the issue with the landlord, you have the right to obtain continued water and sewer utility services by contacting the utility division and having the account placed in your name. If you do place the account in your own name services will not be disconnected because of an unpaid bill for which you are not responsible. You will be responsible for future bills coming due during your tenancy.
To place service in your own name you must go to the City of Vancouver Utilities Administration offices, and make application in person for continued service during normal work hours. You will be required to present personal identification, your current written rental agreement, and/or a bill from another utility in your name. You also will be required to identify your landlord, and provide your landlord’s current address, and telephone number.
If service is disconnected before you have contacted the Utility Division a reconnection fee will be charged before service is restored.
You have the right to appeal the decision of the utility division relating to responsibility for past due utility bills or the right to have service placed in your own name. Utility service will not be disconnected during the appeal process.
(Ord. M-4359 § 1, 2021; Ord. M-4022 § 15, 2012; Ord. M-3755 § 13, 2006; Ord. M-2629 § 4, 1986)