Water charges in Temp accomodation?

LilacLillie

I'm asking advice on behalf of someone that I am trying to help.
They were moved into Temporary housing by the local council, but its a private landlord (???? something I don't already understand).
They are getting full housing benefits and have been at the flat for almost 3mths.
Yesterday they received a water bill for £147, which they read as being threatening, for 6mths water charges.
No one seems to be helping them (council/landlord) as to if its them that have to actually pay.
They've asked for my help and are bringing the letter up to me this afternoon to look at.
I'm also drawing a blank, so thought I'd ask on here.
I can't imagine that the letter is threatening (they tell me it says along the lines of the baliffs being sent) as it'll be the first one they have from water board, but don't know untill I see it myself. I do know that the baliffs can't be sent round untill a court case has been held, so am wondering if it was meant for a previous tennant? Altough it is addressed to them.
Any ideas for advice would be grateful.
Thanks
LL

Cara79

I don't know how Housing Benefit works tbh, but when they move in 3 mths ago, they should have contacted the utilities to give meter readings etc. With ref to water (unless on a water meter) they should have phoned them to get it put in their name. I don't know whether HB covers water charges, but I suspect for 3 months, it wouldn't be £147 worth! If the letter is threatening, then clearly they would have been chasing this long before!

I would advise that they get onto the company and advise them of when they moved in. Send evidence if required. Then at least it would be pro-ratad.

Hopefully someone will be along soon that has more understanding of HB.

silvercar

They were moved into Temporary housing by the local council, but its a private landlord (???? something I don't already understand).

Either the council is leasing the property from a private landlord and so your friend's tenancy is with the council or the council has acted like an agent and found tenants for the private landlord, in which case the tenancy would be between your friend and the landlord.

Yesterday they received a water bill for £147, which they read as being threatening, for 6mths water charges.

contact the water company and give them the date you moved in, they should then send you an appropriate bill. It will probably be that no-one has informed them that a new tennancy has started.

lynzpower

is the letter actually adressed to them?

LilacLillie

The girl has rung me about 4 times now! I still haven't seen the letter, she's gone to the CAB to try to get an appointment for tomorrow. I can't imagine they will help as they only deal with immigration now, but hope they can pass her onto someone else who can.
She has rung the water board and they were unhelpful and aggressive (!), told her they were sending debt collectors to her and will remove her goods to the value of. I told her that they can not do that untill it has been taken to court. She has proof when she moved in (moved on from B&B) the letter is in her name at the temp address and this is the first correspondance from water to her.
I'm out of my depth I think. The landlord has just told her that the water charges are 'A private agreement between him and the council', so can't discuss it with her ??????????????
Council are not answering calls today because of the 'High volume of calls, no more will be taken today'.
Its taking up my day and I'm going round in circles.
LL

Alleycat

Okay, so as another poster has said, she is either renting via the council and they would be her landlord or she is renting direct from the private landlord. There are a couple of questions to ask to try and ascertain the situation:-

Has she said who she signed a tenancy/licence agreement from?

Can she have a look at her agreement, to find out if it is a licence or tenancy agreement. Temp is usually a licence (unless B&B), if so it would be more likely that the council/landlord are responsible for the water charges.

Do you know if she has to pay any 'top-up' as this could indicate that there is a service charge due which may include water charges.

From my experience of placing people into temp, we either use hostels (licence with the hostel itself), B&B (homeless team would be the agents, so service charge incl water would be payable to homeless team) or dispersed units like flats, owned by the council/homeless team (licence with the council/homeless team as landlord, service charge incl water payable to the council/homeless team). As temp can often be quite short term, the likelihood would be that the water charges are payable by the council via a service charge. It would either go to the private landlord from the council or they would pay it themselves. Other utilities like gas and electric vary as often they have card meters, so the tenant would be given a card to top up themselves.

In this instance, from what the landlord appears to have said, there is a service charge payable by the tenant to the council and they forward the money onto the landlord who pays the water board. Though it is strange that the letters from the water company are being addressed to her.

She should have a named keyworker or officer who she has to liaise with regarding the temp and she should contact them asap. Arrange for them to visit, or if they won't go to their office armed with the letters she has received so far. Are you able to go with her? If she is really stressed she may get fobbed off, but if someone who has some knowledge comes with her, it would probably really help.

If you find out the answers to the above questions, can you post them and I will have a look at this thread later.

LilacLillie

Thanks for the help & support on this matter.
After running rings around me the other day, the couple sorted it out at the CAB....................without telling me till today!
The CAB said they are responsible for the charges (although I'm still unsure that they are, but don't want to keep getting involved) and have worked out a re-payment plan for them at £7 a week.
When they called the water board themselves, they were really rude and threatening, so in their case it was worth getting someone more official to sort it for them.
Thanks again
LL