A utility transfer plan names each service, the account holder before and after the start date, the day each transfers, and the reading on that day. The Texas backdrop is Property Code §92.008: a landlord may not interrupt a utility the tenant pays directly, or one the landlord furnishes, except for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency — so a landlord who closes the account before the tenant has opened theirs, leaving the unit dark, has a problem the statute names. The plan makes the two accounts overlap by a day rather than leaving a gap.
The plan
| Service | Before start date | Transfer day | Tenant’s step | Landlord’s step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Landlord’s account or vacant-unit service | Start date | Opens a retail account (or the single utility’s account where there is no choice) effective the start date | Closes the landlord’s account effective the day after |
| Gas | Landlord | Start date | Opens the account; schedules the meter turn-on if required | Closes the day after |
| Water and sewer | Landlord (house) or stays with landlord (many apartments) | Start date or never | Opens the city account — several Texas cities require a copy of the lease and a deposit | Supplies the lease copy or authorisation letter; reads the meter |
| Trash | Follows water in most cities | With water | — | — |
| Internet | None | Any | Orders service; landlord permits installation within stated limits | — |
Sequence
- At signing: give the tenant the utility sheet — provider names, whether there is retail choice, the city water office’s requirements (lease copy, ID, deposit), and the start date.
- One week before: the tenant confirms the accounts are ordered; the landlord confirms in writing.
- Start date: photograph all meters with the tenant; write the readings on the move-in record.
- Day after: the landlord closes the vacant-unit accounts effective that day, not earlier.
- First bill: the tenant sends a copy or confirms the account number; the landlord files it with the lease.
Where the tenant cannot get service
A city water office that requires the signed lease, or a tenant whose retail provider needs a deposit the tenant cannot pay on the day, produces the gap the plan exists to prevent. Keep the landlord’s account open until the tenant’s is confirmed, bill the tenant for the overlap days by meter reading, and never let the unit go without water or power as a way of forcing the transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord shut off utilities to make a tenant transfer the account?
No. §92.008 permits interruption only for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency; the remedy for a violation is one month’s rent plus $1,000, actual damages and fees (Property Code §92.008).
What does a tenant need to open city water in Texas?
It varies by city: commonly identification, a deposit and a copy of the lease or a landlord authorisation letter; the city pages on this site list the local requirement.
Who pays for the overlap days?
Whoever the lease says; the simplest rule is that consumption from the start date is the tenant’s, allocated by the meter readings taken that day.
Sources
Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential Tenancies ↗
- Texas State Law Library — Landlord/Tenant Law research guide ↗
- Texas State Law Library — Utility shutoffs ↗
General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.