It is the landlords responsibility to maintain the equipment, not the
tennant. Did the landlord have in the lease to turn off the water heater
when leaving, no he did not, no one does, so why should the tennant be
responsible, he is not. Utility companies may or may not understand the
landlords problems. Of course all will want the tennant to pay, but its
not his equipment that failed, he rents, not owns.