Summerside council considers making landlords pay unpaid tenants electric bills

The City of Summersidesays it is considering a new policy that would make landlords responsible for unpaid power bills.

The proposal was discussed at a council committee meeting after it was learned the city has $1.3 million in unpaid electrical bills owing toits electricutility.

Summersidetakes in $20 million a year from the utility with the majority of people paying them on time.

'It just makes my life more difficult'

Bayside Group CEO Scott Brown said the idea is ridiculous. His company owns 50 rental units in the city.

"I'm collecting rent payments and now I have to make sure I'm looking over everybody's shoulder making sure that they're paying their electricity bill. I mean, it doesn't add any income for me, it just makes my life a lot more difficult. It doesn't make me want to expand any faster or acquire any more tenants, or any more units, for sure."

Just an option, at this point

Summerside'sDirector of Finance,Rob Philpott said involving landlordsis just another option for council to consider that if for whatever reason the tenant is unable to pay in a timely matter or doesn't pay at all, then landlords could potentially be held accountable for that.

If passed, the newpolicy would apply to commercial, residential and industrial rentals.

Philpott said the proposal is being considered by the council at this time andwill be discussed with the public.

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