Private rental - water rates help

flowerofthewest

Sorry if this becomes a bit of a rant - I am soooo annoyed.

Some background - I have been in the same property as a private renter since 1989. My contract stipulated that the council rates (as was) and water rates were included in the monthly rent. When the poll tax (and subsequently council tax) came in I then became responsible for that payment - BUT - my rent was never reduced accordingly.

Well - they've done it again! I got a phone call and letter from the landlord's agents a couple of weeks ago stating that the landlord had given permission for me to install a water meter and that the request to the water company needed to come from me. I smelled a rat and called the letting agency, who confirmed that the landlord had given permission. When I asked if this meant that I was now responsible for the water rates and if my rent would be reduced accordingly, I was told that they would contact the landlord and find out.

My landlord seems to be difficult to get hold of at the best of times so I wasn't worried that I hadn't heard anything back yet. Until this morning, when I received a bill of £477.04 for the water rates for this year!

I rang Anglia Water and they confirmed that they had received a letter from my landlord advising that I was responsible for the rates as of 1 April.

Can he do this? Should I have had written confirmation prior to this change? Surely even if the rent is not being reduced I should have received a new contract to sign?

I've been in touch with the letting agency this morning but as it's a weekend there is only admin staff in, no-one who can make a decision or act on this until Monday. I've asked for an urgent callback on Monday and don't know what else to do.

As an aside - I'm on benefits and don't have nearly £500 to pay this bill. What do I do now?

ifonlyitwaseasier

i would have thought that if it was in your contract that water was included that he can't just change his mind, he'd need to negotiate this change with you.

try contacting shelter or the CAB for some advise, but i don't think he can just decide to do that.

sounds like he's tryig to cut costs.

good luck!

tyllwyd

Assuming that you do end up with the bill, have a look at it because there is probably an option to pay by direct debit over 10 months, so at least you don't have to come up with £500 in one go.

neas

its pretty normal these days to pay water rates (metered is even better as you are responsible for water used etc)

poppysarah

I had a flat where the landlord paid the water rates even though it didn't say so in my tenancy - I think it was because he'd split the hosue into flats but not the water - so there was only one supply to the place - so i couldn't have a bill in my own name.

The water board are one of the most efficient set of creatures for chasing money though.

clutton_2

if the water rates are stipulated to be the responsibility of the landlord in your tenancy agreement then the landlord has to pay them.

Can you write to the LL and send a copy of the agreement ? he may not have seen it - as letting agents do not always send copies to LLs.

installing a water meter for a single person will save a lot of money on the bill - whoever has to pay it.

Cazza

Possible also worth writing to the water company explaining the situation and enclosing a copy of the tenancy agreement too???

Debt_Free_Chick

clutton wrote: »

if the water rates are stipulated to be the responsibility of the landlord in your tenancy agreement then the landlord has to pay them.

Can you write to the LL and send a copy of the agreement ? he may not have seen it - as letting agents do not always send copies to LLs.

installing a water meter for a single person will save a lot of money on the bill - whoever has to pay it.

Agree entirely.

If your agreement states that rent includes water rates, then the LL can not just "make you responsible" - he needs to negotiate a new/change to your existing agreement.

flowerofthewest

Thanks for all your replies guys. I've called the water rates company again and they are going to put the bill on hold for a month so I can get something sorted out and not have them chasing me for payment.
I'll get in touch with CAB on Monday and see what I can do next.
Thanks again
Fi

real1314

flowerofthewest wrote: »

As an aside - I'm on benefits and don't have nearly £500 to pay this bill. What do I do now?

If you're getting housisng benefit towards your rent, they should not be paying the element that covers water charges anyway, so you'd be paying them whether they are included in the rent or not (unless you are on LHA, which is unlikely).