Deposit held for post-hoc water bill

ntrolls

This is a part rant part advice seeking.

We recently moved out of a one-bed flat (which was just renovated from an office building to a ground-floor shop with 3 flats - we were the first tenants) after living there for about 2 years and 3 months. We paid all utilities we were billed for but we never got water bills. I admit that I should have asked, but the landlord also did not mention anything at all during the whole time.

When we checked out (no damage to the property, to which the landlord agreed), he raised the issue of the water bill, saying that the building has a metre and we should pay one third of the bill. Okay, we don't mean to avoid paying anything we've used. But he did not have the original water bill and had no idea how much we owed him.

Almost 2 weeks later, he still does not have any idea saying that Thames Water has been late replying to their request. I would say this is a sloppy way of doing business at least - if they intended to charge us at the end of the tenancy, we should have been informed in the beginning and they should have kept every water bill safely, I think.

So our deposit is being held by him (and not a deposit protection scheme, I suspect) because of this water bill issue. On one hand, I'm trying to remain in good will and I would pay what I owe. But on the other hand, I find it a bit annoying that:

1) we were never told that the building had a metre and we would be charged at the end of the tenancy

2) the deposit is being held even when both parties agreed that no damage has been done to the flat

3) moving is an expensive business and I could really use the money

If this drags on, is there any deadline that I can impose on?

BitterAndTwisted

I suspect the tariff hasn't been changed from business to residential and the landlord is hoping for amended bills to reflect residential being on a lower tariff.

ntrolls

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I suspect the tariff hasn't been changed from business to residential and the landlord is hoping for amended bills to reflect residential being on a lower tariff.

If I were the landlord and that was the case, I would tell my tenants so, wouldn't I? And he told me that one of the guys who lived in another flat for some time and moved out already paid his bit of water bill.

Of course Thames Water will not reveal any information regarding the specific account because it is not under my name. Hmm.

mcc100

Your landlord should have informed the water company that he was converting the office building to a shop and three flats.

If so he would have received regular six monthly water bills for the meter and would have approached your sooner.

I suspect that he did not inform the water company, consequently has not received a bill and is now trying to retrieve some money from you in case the water company send him a bill.

Ask him for the meter serial number and then call the water company to find out if they are billing anyone for the meter.

ntrolls

mcc100 wrote: »

I suspect that he did not inform the water company, consequently has not received a bill and is now trying to retrieve some money from you in case the water company send him a bill.

Ask him for the meter serial number and then call the water company to find out if they are billing anyone for the meter.

Something tells me that he won't let me know the meter serial number easily. Sigh.

I also asked him whether we can get our deposit back first and pay whatever amount we owe him later, provided that he can present evidence of proper billing - he refused.

mcc100

It may be worth re-posting on the water forum on this site as there are some knowledgeable posters on there, some of who I think have worked for water companies in the past .......

ntrolls

Thanks, I will do that

angrypirate

Put a request into the TDS for your full amount back. That should hurry him along coz then he'll either have to
1. raise a dispute,
2. agree to you taking it or
3. not do anything, in which case you'll receive it after 14 days anyway.