Advice please - landlord not paid electric bill

CashmerePencil

Hi,

Hope someone can help. My sister rents a house with five others. They all pay rent INCLUSIVE of all utility bills. Yesterday the electric board turned up saying the electric hadnt been paid for 3 months and they come to serve notice to disconnect unless the bill is paid. What can the tenants do? The landlord is not resident.

Thanks

lonestar1

I would get in touch with landlord and see if they are happy for you to settle the bill and take it off the rent (If they agree make sure you get something in writing though)

tbs624

Your sister & the other tenants need tontact the local Council's Private Sector Rentals Team and tell them they need to speak to, or get an appointment to see, the Tenancy Relations Officer urgently.

At the same time, she should contact the accounts section at the utility company and explain that they are doing their best to get things sorted out with the LL , that they will keep them up to date, and ask that they note this on the file. Your sister should note the date, the time and get the full name of who she speaks to.

The local Council can use powers under the 1976 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, S33 to ensure that the utilities are not disconnected in these circumstances or, if they have been disconnected already, they can arrange for them to be restored and the costs involved are then passed back to the LL.

This dept is always busy - your sister may have to go down to the office and just wait. She will need to have all her tenancy info with her.

The TRO can liaise with the LL to find out what is happening - this may be the first sign of upcoming financial difficulties with other things such as paying the mortgage on the property, if there is one.

No tenant should ever make deductions from their rent payments without seeking qualified legal advice prior to doing so.

CashmerePencil

Thank you both - will pass it on.

sue_m_2

CashmerePencil wrote: »

Hi,

Hope someone can help. My sister rents a house with five others. They all pay rent INCLUSIVE of all utility bills. Yesterday the electric board turned up saying the electric hadnt been paid for 3 months and they come to serve notice to disconnect unless the bill is paid. What can the tenants do? The landlord is not resident.

Thanks

Hi i have just read this thread and my daughter and the rest of the tenants in the flats where she lives are having a nightmare of a time with their landlord. The electric has been cut off now for 2 days as the landlord has not paid his bill. The tenants all have electric meters so hes had the money, hes owes the electric board 3000 apparently, the water is also going to be cut off as he owes on that too. tenants went to lettings agents (useless as they are) and were told IF he pays it the electric MAY be on my monday. the electric also affects the heating which is all electric. the tennants dont know what to do, there are children in there too. the blase attitude of the lettings agent and the landlord are so negligent i cant even begin to state all the wrongdoings. this is in ashton under lyne. my daughter is on her own and feels vulnerable, we all feel totally helpless and dont know what to do please advise.

olly300

sue_m wrote: »

Hi i have just read this thread and my daughter and the rest of the tenants in the flats where she lives are having a nightmare of a time with their landlord. The electric has been cut off now for 2 days as the landlord has not paid his bill. The tenants all have electric meters so hes had the money, hes owes the electric board 3000 apparently, the water is also going to be cut off as he owes on that too. tenants went to lettings agents (useless as they are) and were told IF he pays it the electric MAY be on my monday. the electric also affects the heating which is all electric. the tennants dont know what to do, there are children in there too. the blase attitude of the lettings agent and the landlord are so negligent i cant even begin to state all the wrongdoings. this is in ashton under lyne. my daughter is on her own and feels vulnerable, we all feel totally helpless and dont know what to do please advise.

Phone shelter this weekend on 0808 800 4444 their lines are open from 8-8pm 7 days a week.

sue_m_2

this is exactly the same situ that my daughter is in, in flats in ashton under lyne same 3 months non payment by the landlord and also the water has not been paid either. lettings agents say MAY get put back on on monday IF he pays, they have no lights, heating, nothing, food defrosted in freezer and there are some tenants with children, its scandalous, its weekend no where is open, local authorities, CAB or anything what the hell are they supposed to do. the tenants pay their electric by meter, but the landlord has not paid the bill.........criminal, negligent

olly300

Sue m you have made a double post.

And as I pointed out in my post Shelter has helplines open on the weekend.

However if your daughter is not classed as vulnerable or doesn't have any children then they may not be able to help her this weekend.