If he was using an attorney, I’m sure the attorney would be happy to pay this. It’s cheaper than a lawsuit.
Malpractice by his lawyer and fraud by the previous owner. He should not even consider paying it.
In a normal country, personal unpaid water bills do not pass on to the next owner. Property taxes, yes. But not water bills.
But Canada is NOT a normal country.
I was wondering about title insurance but I don’t think this would affect the title - yet.
Wouldn’t this show up in a lien check? If not, wouldn’t the obligation be on the former owners, not on the property?
38,000 bucks is a LOT of water over six months.
If the lawyer missed the bill check, he’s the right party to collect from. Or, I should say, his insurance. Not the title insurer, not any home warranty. The buyer assumed all obligations under advice from his lawyer that there weren’t any.
This is a title insurance or attorney problem. I wouldn’t allow the insurance company or attorney’s problem become my problem.
No burst water pipe. Neighbors hooked up to whatever spigot was available and helped themselves. The open water line was never shut off by the municipality after the previous owner vacated. Dollars to donuts lots of folk have been getting free water in the interim.
That’s just wong.
Sue the lawyer. He/she was paid for due diligence. They punted.
Normal bill close to $2k.
I had an attorney hold up closing on a $56 refund I had coming on the common septic assessment. “I don’t care about the $56” I said. “I need to do this,” she said.”This could be malpractice.”
Something is seriously Wong here...?
Seems to me his lawyer is stuck with a $38k water bill.
Tell the water company that its their problem because they continued to provide service to a non-paying customer.
Wong needs a new lawyer. And make sure the new lawyer’s name is not Wong, also. Two Wongs don’t make a right.
$1800/month for water? Did he buy a water park?
Also, at that monthly rate, it means the bill hasn’t been paid in almost 2 years. Why is the water supply still on?
The attorney is on the hook, or be sued for malpractice. For 39 thousand dollars plus attorney’s fees.
The new owner would only be liable if there was a lien filed and missed by the buyer’s attorney during the search.