City hikes water deposit for renters - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(02/27/13) - The City of Flint is upping the deposit renters pay to have their water turned on when they first move into a home. The cost is going from $100 to $350.

The city hopes that will help them recover some of the money that goes unpaid. Flint's emergency financial manager Ed Kurtz addressed the issue Wednesday at his weekly briefing.

He says the fee hike puts the city right in line with what other communities in Genesee County charge. The water deposit affidavit says landlords are not responsible for water bills. The responsibility is solely on the tenant.

The water deposit is refundable, so if a tenant decides to vacate the property and they have paid their bills on time, they'll get the deposit back.

Kurtz says when residents don't pay their water bill for several months, that cost is passed on to those who do. There are approximately 5,000 water affidavits for rental properties in Flint and nearly $3 million in unpaid bills.

Kurtz says this is one way to recoup some of that money. But the Genesee Landlords Association says this could impact their ability to rent out properties in the city.

"It's going to cause a harder time renting the properties and they won't be able to come up with the money," said executive director Terry Hansen.

"If a landlord leases the house and leaves the water in his name, bill would go to the tenant, he can charge the tenant or handle water any way he wants too without having to pay the deposit or the turn on/off fee. The $350 is charged only to tenants when they use the affidavit process," said EFM Ed Kurtz.