Eric Wohlwend’s Proponent Testimony: The Truth About Ohio’s Water Bill Crisis (HB 93)

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬? 💧

In this compelling testimony for Ohio House Bill 93, Eric Wohlwend, a veteran housing provider with over 20 years of experience, sheds light on a broken system that unfairly burdens housing providers with unpaid tenant water bills. Drawing from personal experiences, Eric emphasizes how the current policies are not only unjust but also financially harmful for housing providers, tenants, and municipalities.

Eric also highlights a critical linguistic shift: the importance of referring to landlords as Housing Providers, a term that better reflects their role in offering essential services and solutions in the housing market.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: 𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

Eric recounts a specific case where he was forced to pay over $1,000 in unpaid tenant water bills, even though:

- The tenant signed an agreement to pay for water usage.
- Eric requested the water company turn off service, which they refused to do.
- After the tenant vacated, the water company immediately shut off service, preventing Eric from preparing the property for a
new tenant.

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬

- Tenants face no accountability for unpaid water bills, incentivizing irresponsible behavior.
- Housing providers are forced to pass these costs onto responsible tenants, leading to higher rents.
- Municipalities, in turn, lose trust and cooperation from housing providers, making housing less affordable and accessible.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 “𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫” 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Eric passionately advocates for the term Housing Provider over "Landlord."

The term reflects the professional role of providing safe, clean, and affordable housing. It moves away from outdated and pejorative connotations of "landlord" as a feudal figure. This linguistic shift aligns with a modern understanding of the housing market as a collaborative service industry.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Eric challenges the double standard between private utility companies (e.g., gas, electricity) and municipal water departments:

- Private utilities track and hold tenants accountable for their bills, ensuring fair outcomes for all parties.
- Municipal water companies instead shift responsibility to housing providers, creating financial strain and reducing housing affordability.

HB 93 would enforce accountability, encouraging water companies to follow best practices like turning off unpaid services and tracking tenant responsibility.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐁 93 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Eric makes a compelling case that passing House Bill 93 would:

- Restore fairness in the utility billing process.
- Protect good tenants from unfair rent increases caused by irresponsible policies.
- Foster better cooperation between housing providers and utility companies.
- Address some of the broader housing affordability crisis by curbing unnecessary costs for providers.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Contact your representatives to advocate for House Bill 93 and ensure a fairer utility billing system for all Ohioans. Share this video to spread awareness and join the movement for responsible housing policy.

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