💧 Everything Utilities – Owner
Proper utility setup ensures a smooth transition between residents and prevents service interruptions. This section explains how utilities are handled in Washington State and what you, as the property owner, should do to keep accounts properly managed.
1️⃣ Utility Accounts Residents Can Switch
In most Washington State cities, residents are responsible for switching utilities into their own name before moving in. They must begin service on the first day of the lease and end it on the last day of the lease.
The following utilities can typically be transferred directly to the resident:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Garbage service (except for Waste Management in Kirkland/Renton and Seattle Public Utilities)
Most common providers:
- PSE (Puget Sound Energy) – Gas & Electricity
- SCL (Seattle City Light) – Electricity
- PUD (Snohomish County Public Utility District) – Electricity
2️⃣ Owner Allocation (for Electricity & Gas)
For PSE and PUD, we recommend setting up an Owner Allocation with the utility company.
This automatically returns the account to your name when residents move out, ensuring no service gap between tenancies.
How to set up Owner Allocation:
- Puget Sound Energy (PSE) – Call 888-225-5773
- Snohomish PUD (SNOPUD) – Call 425-783-1012
Let the representative know you’d like to add an owner allocation for your rental property. They’ll walk you through the setup in just a few minutes.
3️⃣ Utilities That Stay in the Owner’s Name
Certain utilities, such as water, sewer, and some garbage services, remain in the owner’s name and cannot be switched to residents.
These include:
- Waste Management (Kirkland & Renton)
- Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)
- Some HOA-managed utilities
How this works:
- Residents either receive the bill directly from the utility company or from GPS Renting.
- In most cases, they pay the bill directly to the utility company.
- GPS will prorate the move-in and move-out dates to ensure residents pay only for their usage period.
4️⃣ Important Owner Notes
- Automatic Payments:
If you have auto-pay set up with any utility company, please disable it before GPS takes over management.
This avoids accidental double payments or owner charges for resident usage. - Billing Overlap:
If you receive a utility bill covering dates beyond the lease period, please email it to us at care@gpsrenting.com.
Our team will review, adjust, or coordinate a reimbursement with the resident if needed. - Water/Sewer Proration:
GPS handles water/sewer proration during move-in and move-out to ensure you are only responsible for owner-period usage.
5️⃣ Summary of Responsibilities
Utility Type | Typical Account Holder | Billing Responsibility |
Electricity / Gas | Resident (PSE, PUD, SCL) | Resident pays directly; owner uses allocation to resume after move-out |
Water / Sewer | Owner | Resident reimburses based on usage and lease dates |
Garbage | Resident (except SPU & Waste Mgmt in Kirkland/Renton) | Resident pays directly |
SPU & Waste Management (Kirkland/Renton) | Owner | GPS handles billing and reimbursement |
HOA-Managed Utilities | HOA or Owner | Per HOA rules |
6️⃣ Questions or Assistance
If you’re unsure which utilities apply to your property or need help with billing coordination, contact our team at:
📧 care@gpsrenting.com
💚 Professional. Honest. Kind.
We’ll help ensure your utilities are set up correctly—so your residents move in smoothly and your property remains protected.
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