Is Landlords liable for unpaid bill for gas/electric supply

sazzler61

Any reply as yet? I am looking to buy a flat I've seen which would probably rent out a few years from now- trying to get a heads up on things like these!! Thanks

DVardysShadow

gmartjones wrote: »

Spiro,
There was no electric or gas used between tenants. Could be they are charging for standing charge ?? not sure on that, will have to check with utility co. I provided the utility co with the moving out metre reading immediately he left.

If it is possible that you are being chased for a standing charge, then you need to ask the DCA to provide a copy of the bill they are chasing.

Pincher

Just got hit by a load of vancant period bills because I decided to do some work between tenants. All sorted properly, as usual, but still paid a lot for nothing.

Proper check-out inventory done, so both meter readings recorded and reported to E.On . Property was let furnished, so was still furnished during vacant period.

Electricity
======

E.On sent me a welcome letter, and then the first month's statement tariff was Economy 7! The house was on Economy 7 but I changed to single rate 14 years ago, but did not change the meter. A new digital meter was swapped in during the tenancy, but it's still Economy 7! I rang up E.On to say it should have been single rate from day 1, and they said they can't change it retrospectively.

Is it possible that the tenant was on Economy 7 for 7 years!:eek:
I paid about £50 to change the meter, so this won't happen again.

The electricty bill for 3 three months was about £40, no standing charge. Standard Tariff (no tie-in), Tier 1 rate, of course.


Gas
===


Submitted readings at both check-out and check-in. All well.
I run the system from time to time to keep the pumps from seizing up, so about £20, no standing charge. Standard Tariff (no tie-in), Tier 1 rate, of course.

Water
====

No meter, Full price! About £160 for three months of virtually no usage. Well, the gardener may have sprinkled some.


Council Tax
========

10% off, at second home rate. About £500 for 3 months, beause it's furnished. If I had moved all the furniture out during the works, it would have been FREE. :mad: The transport and storage for three months would have been more than £500, so I left it. Effectively, I paid £500 for the rubbish bin to be emptied once a week.


Mortgage
======

Actually, a lot, but at BOE+1.75%, I'm not complaining.


Building works
=========

A fair bit, but irrelevant.


TV License
=======

Free.


Moral
====

Electricity and gas are trivial amounts (compared to the rest of the vacant period expenses). If you just submit the readings for every check-out and check-in conscientiously, and pay the pittance, you don't have to waste a huge amount of time dealing with debt collectors.

spiro

Pincher wrote: »

Electricity
======

E.On sent me a welcome letter, and then the first month's statement tariff was Economy 7! The house was on Economy 7 but I changed to single rate 14 years ago, but did not change the meter. A new digital meter was swapped in during the tenancy, but it's still Economy 7! I rang up E.On to say it should have been single rate from day 1, and they said they can't change it retrospectively.

Is it possible that the tenant was on Economy 7 for 7 years!:eek:
I paid about £50 to change the meter, so this won't happen again.

If the meter was exchange as part of the ongoing policy exchange then the meter worker will always do a like for like exchange unless he is instructed to do otherwise.

Unless told otherwise a supplier will normally put an E7 metered site on an E7 tariff because they dont know otherwise.

All the points about what to do when people move in and out is 100%. If everyone (LL and tenants) did this then lots of problems would be avoided.

scoutminnie

Whenever a tenant moves out of a property it is best to record meter readings for gas, electric and water. Don't rely on a tenant to take meter readings because such things are not on top most of peoples minds when moving. An inventory clerk can do a proper check out including meter readings which are signed off by an independent person. This signed check out document can be used as evidence if any dispute arises about meter readings.

lilyxpie wrote: »

Hi,
I'm after some advice. I've recently received a letter from debt collectors on behalf of United Utilities for a unpaid gas and electric bill for a month in which the property I rent out was empty between tenants. Its for £107. I wasn't even aware that the supply has been transfered to them (in breach contract) by previous tenant and this was first demand received for any payment.

The bill is based on estimated readings. I don't have copies of meter readings but can honestly say that the only electrical appliance (built in fridge) was switched off and the boiler was switched off following its landlords service in this month. It was August 2010 so I believe that the £57 gas component of bill is unreasonable anyway.

United Utilities say I am responsible for bill and are now treating it as third party dispute between myself and current tenant and demanding immediate payment.

I have never signed or entered into any contract with them and how can I be liable for a bill based on estimated readings?

Advise gratefully received as I really can;t afford to pay it.
Thanks

bengasman

lilyxpie wrote: »

I've recently received a letter from debt collectors on behalf of United Utilities for a unpaid gas and electric bill for a month in which the property I rent out was empty between tenants. Its for £107.
I wasn't even aware that the supply has been transfered to them (in breach contract)

Not a breach of contract; you have no right to tell your tenant where to buy their energy.

lilyxpie wrote: »

United Utilities say I am responsible for bill and are now treating it as third party dispute between myself and current tenant and demanding immediate payment.

Total nonsense. You did not have a contract with them, so you are not liable for the bill.

Casciana

I recently had a change of tenant in a buy to let house and took meter readings with the outgoing and incoming tenants respectively. I forwarded these readings asking that i am billed for any usage in between, as is usual, and I am awaiting their bill. In the meantime a few days ago the new tenant has received a hand delivered letter, addressed to 'The Occupier' from a DCA working on behalf of the utility company for an outstanding debt in the name of the previous tenant.
I have contacted the utility company to discuss and have been told (by an employee who answered the phone) that there has been a change in the law and it is now ultimately the landlords responsibility to pay up if the tenant doesn't, as it is their property! (have I been asleep and missed something?!)
Can anyone shed any light on this, or have had a similar situation?

Cardew

Casciana wrote: »

I recently had a change of tenant in a buy to let house and took meter readings with the outgoing and incoming tenants respectively. I forwarded these readings asking that i am billed for any usage in between, as is usual, and I am awaiting their bill. In the meantime a few days ago the new tenant has received a hand delivered letter, addressed to 'The Occupier' from a DCA working on behalf of the utility company for an outstanding debt in the name of the previous tenant.
I have contacted the utility company to discuss and have been told (by an employee who answered the phone) that there has been a change in the law and it is now ultimately the landlords responsibility to pay up if the tenant doesn't, as it is their property! (have I been asleep and missed something?!)
Can anyone shed any light on this, or have had a similar situation?

I cannot see any way that a landlord would be responsible for the debts of a tenant.

If that were the case, Councils would be responsible for council house tenant's bills if they defaulted etc etc.

I suspect the employee means if the previous tenant disputes the bill on the grounds that the meter readings you gave were incorrect, then it becomes a third party dispute.

Drop an email to the Utility company and get something in writing.