3 year old bill from shared student house

anonymousredditaccount

Hi all,

I lived in a student house 3 years ago and we never received a water bill while we were there. I've finished University and have just received a bill (to my parents address, I no longer live there) for the water in that house. My problem is that the landlord has given the water company mine and all of the housemates at the time's details. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, we all pay our share and life goes on. This bill is different though, as it's 3 years on, only 3 of the original 5 housemates I still keep in contact with and I know some of them aren't in the country any more.
Because all our names are listed on the bill, we're all legally liable for the debt. I phoned them and asked whether if I paid my share - they could take me off, but they can't until the whole bill is cleared. So if I pay my 1/5th and nobody else does - then I'm still liable for the rest.
I don't know what to do, it's over £200 and since I'm still clearing my other university debt, I don't have that cash lying around, plus I wouldn't be able to recover the rest of the housemates' debt through my own means. I understand the water company need paying and I can see why they can't remove me from the bill after paying my share - but if this bill doesn't get paid then I'm going to end up with fees, court judgements and all sorts of mess.
Hope someone on here is from either a water company, debt collection agency or something and tell me what my best course of action is.
Sorry for the wall of text, thanks for taking the time to read this

sotonjoe

First you need to ascertain whether the tenants were liable for charges under the tenancy agreement or if the landlord was responsible for paying.

I'm guessing the tenants were responsible due to the actions of the landlord. If you were responsible for paying, did somebody phone and set up the account, telling the company when you moved in and when you moved out?

If you didn't do this then, to be frank, you've been collectively negligent as tenants and I'm not sure how favourably the water company will look upon you.

If you did set up the account and do everythinig you should have done then you can put a bit of pressure on the water company for not billing you correctly and see how their stance changes.

The major sticking point is going to be who / how mnay of the tenants is actually liable for the charges. My experience of utilities companies has usually been that the account needs to be opened in one person's name as this will then prevent scenarios similar to your's occurring.

It may well be then that nobody opened an account, your ex landlord has received the bills and he has simply passed on the forwarding addressing he has for the tenants. In this scenario, the water company will behave as they've said, i.e. they will seek full recompense from any of you, regardless of whether you all pay a 'fair share' or not.

If you've been negligent, I would have thought the best you could do is be honest, apologise profusely and see what they are willing to do.

Dharri5

anonymousredditaccount wrote: »

Hi all,

I lived in a student house 3 years ago and we never received a water bill while we were there. I've finished University and have just received a bill (to my parents address, I no longer live there) for the water in that house. My problem is that the landlord has given the water company mine and all of the housemates at the time's details. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, we all pay our share and life goes on. This bill is different though, as it's 3 years on, only 3 of the original 5 housemates I still keep in contact with and I know some of them aren't in the country any more.
Because all our names are listed on the bill, we're all legally liable for the debt. I phoned them and asked whether if I paid my share - they could take me off, but they can't until the whole bill is cleared. So if I pay my 1/5th and nobody else does - then I'm still liable for the rest.
I don't know what to do, it's over £200 and since I'm still clearing my other university debt, I don't have that cash lying around, plus I wouldn't be able to recover the rest of the housemates' debt through my own means. I understand the water company need paying and I can see why they can't remove me from the bill after paying my share - but if this bill doesn't get paid then I'm going to end up with fees, court judgements and all sorts of mess.
Hope someone on here is from either a water company, debt collection agency or something and tell me what my best course of action is.
Sorry for the wall of text, thanks for taking the time to read this

Its always a difficult situation but unfortunately as the tennants of the property (unless otherwise stated in the lettings contract) you will all be equally liable. Even if you pay your share of the charges the Water Company will continue to chase and wont be able to take your name off. Its the same scenario for when couples split up etc. If you call the water the company they will probably use a term such as "3rd party dispute". The best thing to do and I know its not ideal is to pay the full amount and then attempt to recover some of the money back from those housemates you're in contact with. Its just unfortunate for you that when the Water Company have attempted to trace you all its your forwarding address they have found.

Good Luck