Hi I purchased a property in south Florida when the property has a tenant in it and I had to honor the lease. At closing I was paid a security deposit from the seller.

Now that the lease term is about over I am wondering what is the proper way to deal with the security deposit. I know I have to inspect the property and deduct any damage or debris disposal etc...however how do I deal with the bills? The current tenant probably has water/sewer, electric, phone, internet, cable and may be even newspaper and magazines etc...that will not stop at the same day of the rental period. If they do not disconnect them all on that day, and after three weeks I start to get bills at the address, and their security deposit is paid back, what do I do? How do I enforce a smooth and clean transfer on that day?

Thanks,

PF

Hopefully the bills are all in the tenant's name.

If not you need to get all the meters read, i.e. gas, electric, etc., not in the tenants name, and have them transferred to yours as of the date they vactate.

That way you can determine where they stopped and you started.

Be sure and get a forwarding address for them and just send their bills along after they vacate.

You can also ask them to fill out a change of address form at the post office.