Residential Services | Gas | Water | Home | Contact Us |
 |
 |
|
3.27.07 Area landlords cheer decision by M.U.D. Metropolitan Utilities District soon will provide more information about tenants' payment history to landlords. The information will be made available only if tenants agree ahead of time in writing. The Omaha Public Power District adopted a similar policy in January. Landlords say the changes will help them protect their property, keep tenants safe and reduce problems with tenants who don't pay their bills. M.U.D. Senior Vice President Ron Bucher said M.U.D.'s legal staff has drafted a proposed release form for tenants to sign. Some M.U.D. board members are reviewing it. If none object, the utility could begin using the form shortly, Bucher said. The form will permit the utility to disclose whether an individual owes M.U.D. money and the person's 12-month account history. Landlords would learn whether the individual has been late over those 12 months, how often and by how much. The utility and landlords reached an agreement Friday at a meeting held at the urging of board member Dave Friend. Friend said the meeting "went real well. . . . M.U.D. is willing to work with landlords." The utility told the landlords that it does not have the ability to cost-effectively telephone them in advance of shutoffs. However, Bucher said, the utility might be able to provide quicker written notice after a shutoff has occurred. M.U.D. is studying the cost of mailing the landlord a letter immediately after service has been disconnected to a property. Landlords had asked for a phone call 24 hours to 48 hours ahead of time. In response to another concern of landlords, similar letters could be sent notifying them of a change in the name on an account, Bucher said. Terry Mainelli, one of the landlords who has been advocating the changes, praised what she described as a change in approach by M.U.D. "M.U.D. seemed genuinely willing to work with us," she said. |
|
