Electricity bill, unscrupulous landlord, where do I stand?

EmeraldAceBurlesque

Hi everyone,
I am in a massive tizzy at the moment and don't know where to turn. Any advice would be gratefully received.

I am in a bit of a dilemma. I have been living in private rented accommodation for just over 5 years in a property where the Son owns the place but the Father does the actual landlord-ing (or he would do, if he did any!). On moving in we were told that the landlord had the electricity bill in his name and that he would then invoice us month to month for what we owed him for gas and electric. However, soon after moving in we realised that the Father was not interested in landlording - wouldn't come and fix things we needed fixing, didn't return our calls and was generally useless. We repeatedly asked him to bill us for the electricity we had used and time and time again we were fobbed off and told he would 'get right on it'. We never received a bill despite our regular badgering.

Finally about two months ago we recieved a letter from the Son saying he has just been made aware that the Father had never billed us for gas and electric. He said he was willing to compromise and offer us the opportunity to pay one month's rent (£350) in lieu of all and any unpaid and unclaimed gas and electric bills and that from then on we would pay £425 a month which would be inclusive of gas and electric. Of course we jumped at this offer and after discussing it on the phone with the Son I sent off a cheque with a covering letter and a receipt to be signed to confirm the payment.

The cheque was chashed by the Father but the receipt was not returned to me. Now, three weeks after the cheque was cashed, the Father has sent us a letter saying that although he has recieved and cashed the cheque he is unwilling to accept this amount in lieu of unclaimed gas and electric and instead wants to take this amount to cover a month's unpaid rent from 2007 that he claims he has contacted us repeatedly about. I know of no unpaid rent and have recieved no contact about this but I would of course be willing to pay if such a payment has been missed. He says that as he has taken that money as unpaid rent he now wants to renegotiate the gas/electric amount we will pay as he feels £1500 would be closer what he is owed.

Can he do this if I already have an amount agreed in writing with the Son (the owner of the flat) and the Father cashed the cheque (which included the covering letter stating the money's purpose)? Also, does it make a difference that the house is split into three flats with only one electric meter?

I had an agreement with the Son that this matter was now resolved and he acknowledged that the error was on their part for not having claimed the money sooner when we tried to resolve it at every turn.

I will make an appointment with the CAB in the morning but in the meantime any advice would be desperately appreciated.
Also, I don't know if it makes any difference to what course of action we should take but we have no desire to stay in this flat and wish to move out as soon as possible.

foxy-roxy

sound like a right un -organised pair, have you spoken to the son about what his father is saying? what has he said about it?

EmeraldAceBurlesque

I have called the Son this evening (I just got the letter when I got in) but so far he is not answering his phone. It was my first though too to find out if he is aware of the letter his father has sent.

markharding557

i think you need to move asap

Blackpool_Saver

Why on earth did you ever agree to this charade?

Katie-Kat-Kins

Dodgy as dodgy can be!!!

One meter, three flats, you never see a bill, how can they proove what you have or have not used? How do you know they aren't profiting from you, they could be receiving a bill for say £300 a month for the whole property and billing each flat £200 a month!!!

I'd find a new flat, give notice that you intend to quit, tell them that you came to an agreement with the owner of the flat, who is who your contract is with and that you have made all payments under that agreement and if they do not accept this then the father can take you to court.

(the father can't take you to court your contrcat is with the son)

Let him prove the debt, you've never even seen a bill!!!

Report him to everyone under the sun while you are at it, this is highly dubious conduct!

Might also be worth discussing this with your neighbours, as a united front you will be much stronger.

Premier_2

The Son is the Landlord and can call the shots (as long as it's legal and it appears in this case it all is)

The Father is the Son's agent. The Father should do as the Son directs or withdraw his services as agent.