Rented Student House outstanding bills previous tennants

Lady_K

Thanx thats interesting alrgough the person whos name is on the bills has probably got his degree by now as I think he finished in June but its worth a try

silvercar

I doubt a uni can withhold degrees from students who owe money to landlords. That makes them arbitrators in any dispute. They can withhold degrees when a student owes money to themselves as that is something the student has agreed to.

There is so little effort in passing meter readings to utility companies it is very bad if a landlord doesn't do this IMO. I took meter readings at the time of agreeing the inventory with the tenant. 4 emails (Gas, electric, council & water) and the job is done.

Melissa22_Mum

I had this problem for ages although not with a private landlord. We were told that we would have to pay the previous tenants bill, I don't think so! I rang several times, no change wrote to them and they changed the bill to my name but with the amount still outstanding:rolleyes: They really are thick and you have to drum it into these people. Simply say, I'm not paying, it's not my bill I moved in on **/**/** and I owe you any money from that date onwards for the services I have used. If the previous tenants owe you money thats your problem!!!

Lady_K

what company was that with was it British Gas?

Lady_K

The landlord refused to contact British Gas and told them to go to the shop and they would let them use the phone there to sort it out.

They had also asked the LL if he would pay to change the prepayment gas meter back to an ordinary one as they had been told that it would cost them around £40 to change back. As the landlord was the one that had the pre payment meter put in they thought he may pay for that to be changed seeing as he now wants it changed back too. He told them that that British Gas would change the meter back free to an ordiary meter but I doubt that. Especially as they have problems with the elec bill at the moment but they will still ask anyway

amboy

He told them to go to which shop? surely not just a random shop !!

You are right in saying that until the debt is cleared BG will not remove the prepayment meter (i can see their point in that one) But I believe in approx 3 months time and assuming the debt has been sorted than you can reques a change of meter for free.

Do you know why the LL asked for prepay? and why does he want it changing now?

Lady_K

I don't know exactly why but I think it may have been something to do with unpaid bills he was left with after the tenants couldnt be traced.

He meant the British Gas shop. I am nit sure why he wants it changing back but he said there were a lot of arguments between tenants last year and he had a bad experience in one if his other houses because tenants bought fan heaters and elec oil filled radiators and the elec bill went sky high and they avoided that.

I dont know why landlords dont just charge higher rent and include bills

msw_2

i had a similar experience...faxed a copy of the tenancy agreement to the supplier and it was sorted out immediately (well...after speaking to a supervisor etc).

Lady_K

They have separate tenancy agreements though and also they moved in 3 weeks before it states on the tenancy but thats when the readings were taken anyway the day they moved in 3 weeks early

incidently does separate tenancy agreements mean they need separate tv licenses if they have a tv in thier own room?

cujo_2

Lady_K wrote:

incidently does separate tenancy agreements mean they need separate tv licenses if they have a tv in thier own room?

its not based on tenancy but on separate spaces. if they have a lock on their doors, then strictly yes they do need an individual licence.

however its more difficult for tv licencing to prove they are separate spaces in a house (as opposed to a halls of residence) and if all tenants say they do not lock their doors then only 1 licence is needed.