Being chased by Thames water & debt collector

karenbower

My son rented (privately) for a year. In the first few days of tennacy he wrote to landlord listing problems one of which was both toilets running continuously as ball cocks broken. It took the landlord approx 7 months to fix one but not the other (plumber didn't have correct parts)! We then found out the property had a water meter and a large bill had mounted. Correspodence started with Thames water & they dropped his £37 a month DD to £24 as they said he had paid more than 2 working people should pay according to their usage chart. When he left property he thought it had all been done & dusted. He was never given any readings when tennacy was started regarding water by the agency. Thames water are now saying they have readings from 3 months after he moved in. This large bill is obviously due to faulty plumbing, which we know was the landlords duty to fix. Thames water will not chase ladlord for money as they have said my son was account holder. Where do we start sorting this mess out. My son is at his wits end woried that he might have picked up CCJ (correspodence went to his old address) & bailiffs will find him. He left said property after 13 months, came home for a couple and then moved into his first purchased home. Which is how Thames water have now contacted him. Who do we turn to.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

It is, I am afraid, a 'third party dispute' as far as the water company are concerned and they cannot bill the landlord.

You could try the Consumer Council for Water, but I doubt if they can help.

My best advice would be to pay the bill and then take the Landlord to the Small Claims Court - I assume you have approached the Landlord about contributing to the bill.

Gothicfairy

Cardew is indeed correct. There really is no one to turn to.

He was responsible for the property and as far as Thames are concerned the bill is correct and payable by your son. It is then down to him to sort out his loss after the fact.

Sorry but I can't see any grounds to not pay the bill or to complain to Thames, it is nothing to do with them and the water was used..ok by a faulty toilet but it was still recorded through the meter.