Our Feed

We are involved in our communities, our profession, and our clients' associations and activities.

Does a Township Need a Resolution to Impose an Unpaid Utility Bill on a Property that is Rented by a Tenant?

It depends on the type of utility service. Presumably you are referencing unpaid water and sewer services.  Under certain circumstances, a Township may not place liens on properties for unpaid water and sewer services if tenants pay a property’s water and sewer bills. The Township cannot place liens on properties for unpaid water and sewer services if: (1) the landlord (who is the property owner) and tenant have a lease stating the landlord is not liable for paying water and sewer bills; and (2) the landlord files an affidavit regarding the lease language with the Township. See MCL 141.121; MCL 123.165. Once a landlord files the affidavit with the Township, the Township can no longer file liens for water and sewer services which occurred after the landlord filed the affidavit. The landlord exception above is narrow. If a landlord did not file an affidavit with the Township or if a landlord  does  not  have a  lease  with  their  tenant containing language regarding  water  and  sewer bills, the Township can still place liens on a landlord’s property. Nothing in the applicable statutes noted above requires a resolution, although adopting a Township policy on addressing delinquent utility bills would be prudent.

Recent Articles & Announcements

  1. Zoning Litigation – Enforcemen...

    Introduction As we have explained at length in prior E-Letters, the enforcement of zoning violations is often best accomplished through the ...

    Read More
  2. Can I issue a 10-business day ex...

    Yes. MCL 15.235(2) lists the options for responding when in receipt of a request made under the FOIA. The FOIA permits a public body to resp...

    Read More
  3. FOIA Denials: Common Basis Furth...

    We have discussed the Freedom of Information Act (the “FOIA”), Act 442 of 1976, MCL 15.231 et seq., before in other e-letters, including...

    Read More
Talk to an Attorney
Request a Consultation

At Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, we’ve been helping municipalities, franchised businesses, employers, and more with their legal needs since 2008. We’d love to learn how we can help you, too.