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HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2012-08-03 Landlord-tenant utilities process changes Town of Leesburg News Release For Immediate Release Leesburg Sets New Tenant and Landlord Process for Establishing Water and Sewer Service Leesburg, VA (August 3, 2012) – A billed passed by the Virginia General Assembly in April 2012 created new rules for how local governments collect unpaid water and sewer bills. The bill took effect July 1, 2012, and focuses on overdue water and sewer bills owed by tenants. For new customers who are tenants, the biggest change is that the tenant’s landlord must sign an authorization form before the tenant can establish service. The purpose of the authorization form is acknowledgment by the landlord that the tenant is establishing service and any unpaid water and sewer bills incurred by the tenant could result in a lien placed on the landlord’s property. The other change is that a security deposit from the tenant will be required unless the landlord has provided documentation with the authorization form that the tenant receives need-based local, state or federal rental assistance. The Town recommends landlords submit the authorization form to the Town before a tenant requests service. Otherwise, the tenant will be given the form and must return the completed form to the Town before service will be established. The authorization form is available on the Town website at www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=185. For further information and for additional administrative procedures for landlord and tenant water and sewer accounts, please visit the Town website at www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=1651. These process changes required an amendment to the Leesburg Town Code. Details of the Town Code amendment were advertised in a Public Notice in the Leesburg Today newspaper and were posted on the Town’s website. A public hearing was held on July 10, 2012, before the Town Council and no comments were made by members of the public during the hearing. Following the public hearing, the Town Council approved the Town Code amendment. The changes affect only water and sewer services established after July 1, 2012. (more) TOL PR 2012-08-03 Tenant-landlord utilities process changes Page 2 For details about the Virginia General Assembly bill (House Bill 567), please visit the Virginia Legislative Information System website at http://lis.virginia.gov/lis.htm. For additional information establishing water and sewer service with the Town of Leesburg, please visit the Town website at www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=185. Contact: Amy Wyks, P.E. Director of Utilities awyks@leesburgva.gov 703-737-7119 # # #