Is this correct? Tenants Moving out-Heating Oil

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

We ask tenants to take moving into consideration when they're putting oil in the tank. We've had a couple of tenants who would have been happy to fill the 500 gallon tank right before leaving if we'd been required to buy the oil. We would make a decision on purchasing the oil based on the individual and circumstances.

yeah...we did take it into consideration, it was that the oil company didn't feel the need to until we called them for the third time and screamed at them to stop service!

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

If your new home is going to use fuel oil for heat also, why not ask the new oil company to come and pump the tank at your old rental house and then deliver a new, full tank to the new home.

Oil companies have trucks that have pumps that will suck as well as blow. It will probably cost you a little bit, but it will likely save you the cost of roughly half a tank of oil.

Good to know...I'll check into that...thanks!

[johnrex62]

I bought a house in NC a few years back and being new to oil heating, never considered the fuel during negotiations. All my prior homes had been natural gas or electric heat, so no limited fuel capacities. After closing the seller told me there was a little over half a tank so I would not have to buy any for several months. He gifted it to me and I could have been knocked over with a feather cause I had been blissfully ignorant of the possibility of waking up in the cold the next morning.

In home buying/selling, everything is negotiable. In a rental situation, everything is predetermined by the lease or subject to debate after the fact with no clear position aside from who has the most to loose. Since the tenant is normally wanting security deposit back and the landlord has the ability to withhold some or all (legality notwithstanding) there is an unequal power position on the side of the landlord. This makes it difficult for the tenant to come out ahead unless there is a good personal relationship in the situation.

Good luck and let us know if you discover any regulations, statute, or common practice that covers this scenario since the lease apparently does not.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by broadbill

My guess that it does fall under the abandoned property clause and it's the landlords property to sell if I leave it, unless we figure something out otherwise.

Believe me, the state doesn't let the landlord just "sell" what ever is left behind and keep the Money, even though...thats the way it should be. We are supposed itemize, appraise, store, and make contact. Then if the property is over a certain amount....and we are actually able to sell it(9/10 its crap) we have pay so much to the state...though we are allowed to deduct for expenses and monies owed.

You could call the oil company and tell them that you have moved.....you notified them numerous times NOT to deliver, and that your not responsible for the payment of the oil.

[puntin]

Hi all, new here.

In our last lease, the oil tank was full when we moved in, and it was expected to be full when we left. But, I believe this was in our lease agreement. How much oil was in the tank when you moved in?

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by puntin

Hi all, new here.

In our last lease, the oil tank was full when we moved in, and it was expected to be full when we left. But, I believe this was in our lease agreement. How much oil was in the tank when you moved in?

It was empty.