who is responsible?

d0nkeyk0ng

This might sound like a silly question, but who is responsible for informing the utility companies of change in occupier?

I moved into a one-bed flat 11 months ago. Lettings Agency said they'd sort everything out about notifying leccy/gas/water/council etc. Received all bills as due and paid them on time (or as soon as I could, depending on when work paid).

Often I'd get letters in the post addressed to previous tenants and I generally leave them to one side and hand them in to the lettings agency as and when I can (not often).

A few months back, got a letter with red writing all over the envelope, addressed to previous occupier. Turned out to be a gas bill and they threatened to switch off the gas if the bill was not paid. Didn't know if it was an error or not so rang the number and told them the addressee had moved out, I was the current tenant and gave them the name of the lettings agency to contact. I also went down to the lettings agency, gave them the letter and asked them to make sure it was a bill for the previous tenant and to make sure it wasn't 'my' bill. They said they would.

Now I have received another letter (addressed to the landlord) demanding payment or again they will cut off the gas. I thought this had been sorted but obviously not.

I'm going to ring up the gas company and figure out what's been going on and what they've been told etc but my feeling is that the lettings agency have messed up but am I still culpable? I'm happy to pay the bill if it is mine but I want to do this the right way. I will also be moving out in 2-3 weeks' time and can imagine bigger mess-ups by the LA and want to make sure everything is paid off for appropriately after I've moved out.

Best plan?

jd87

Pretty sure it's your responsibilty if you're meant to be paying for it.

Magentasue

When you move in, you submit meter readings, open accounts in your name and pay for what you use - so long as you did this, any debt from the previous tenants is nothing to do with you. Look at the meter readings on the bills and compare to the readings you gave when you moved in.

Double check the opening meter readings you gave against the bills - it should be obvious who's liable. Be very careful when you move out - get your meter readings witnessed and make sure the readings you submit are used on the closing bill.

kippen_noedel

Magentasue wrote: »

Double check the opening meter readings you gave against the bills - it should be obvious who's liable. Be very careful when you move out - get your meter readings witnessed and make sure the readings you submit are used on the closing bill.

although a good agent or landlord would do this automatically for you when moving in & out. It is your responsibility to ensure correct meter readings are provided on the start of your occupancy and register bills in your name & again on your exit.

when a change of tenancy occurs I always do a property inspection on the day they are leaving checking inventory and get them to sign off on meter readings. I also take a photo of the meter, holding that days newspaper in front of it so the date is clearly showing.

Given the poor service you have received so far, do not trust the agent to do this properly, follow Magentasues' advice take action to ensure you can prove your exit readings.

Photo_Stylus

I would have thought it would be in your best interest to inform them when you move in, The previous occupier may not have paid the bill, Leaving you to prove what the actual readings were.
You could be liable for charges incurred by the previous occupier.

lemontart

it is your responsibility not the agencies or anyone else's

Plushchris

I've read similar problems to this on here before and they all seem to have the immortal line "The agency said they would take care of everything"

They dont, I would never trust an agency or a landlord with meter readings without checking them myself, I know there must be a few honest ones out there but the amount of times I've read on here about agencies/landlords not providing readings or providing wrong readings (to cover their usage between tennants) would make me want to double check everthing they do.

Then you have the agencies that have some mysterious link with Southern Electric and try to get tennents to switch as they move in, watch out for that one too!

d0nkeyk0ng

Cool. Thanks for the help.

It was a bit naive of me but I've been so busy with work/stress/family situation that I didn't keep on top of things like I normally do. All the other utilities have been addressed in my name, so I assumed the gas utility would also have been in my name.

I've already got a collection of all my bills now and have letters ready to inform them of my moving out + forwarding address, since I no longer trust the estate agent (even though they're a well known company in the region).

Is there anything else I should do before moving out (other than the usual cleaning/inventory etc)?