Backdated G&E Bills

Burnoutmax

Hello Everyone, got a bit of a problem i would like some advice on the following:

me an 4 of my mates are students who have been within private rented housing since July '10, upon moving in we noted after a few months that we had only recieved water bills in our landlords name (which we paid), but no gas or electricity bills were within sight. our landlord had told us that he was going to pay for electricity and gas usage over the summer as they had workmen in for large stretches of it, his way of "compensation" for the inconvinence.

life in the house continued, we carried on with our studies and to be honest we all just shrugged our shoulders when we still hadnt recieved any bills for gas and electricity as the months rolled by, yet we still had intermittent meter readings; so we stupidly assumed that perhaps it was included in our rent or something.

anyway cut to the present day and last week we received a letter normally sent out to people who have just moved in: talking about "automatically become a customer", and "reply within 14 days or we may shut off your supply for "safety" reasons."

of course this caused a slight panic, so we rang the major energy supplier and we told them that we have been in this house for roughly 18 months and that no one new was moving in until at least July '12, they told us that they have no records of anyone at that address on their database since around June 2010 and that all the gas and electricity since then had not been paid.

regardless of our landlord lying about the summer bill payment, and our stupidity with assuming it may be perhaps part of our rent for this house; is it the energy suppliers fault for not supplying any demands or bills in the post, or is it ours, and if it is their fault then can we go by the 12-month maximum back-payment guideline?

also one of our housemates moved out June last year, replaced with another, is the old housemate still liable for his share of gas and electricity bills?

fightyfish

unfortunatley it's ultimately your responsibility to inform all utility companies that you have moved into a property and provide them with opening reads so they can bill you accurately. If the prop had been empty for a long time previously and your landlord hadn't told them you have moved in then they would have no knowledge of that.
As you didn't inform them the backbilling code does not apply and you will be responsible for the bill.
As far as not getting bills, if the company did not have up to date information provided to you they may well have been sending out bills but to the occupier or a previous tenant, and possibly even to another address if they have been given instructions to in the past.
The best thing you can do is to make sure you start keeping a record of meter reads now so you have an idea of your consumption. You should be given the option of a payment plan so you can pay off the debt in installements.
I would complain to your landlord anyway although if his name isn't on the accounts he may not do anything. The issues with your flatmate leaving will be considered a third party issue, but if he's a friend give him a call and explain whats happend and hopefully he'll pay his share.

chanz4

The back bill policy is where they had made the mistake, its an issue between you and your landlord Im afraid with this one. Its upto you to notify them of your move in and under the gas & electricity act you as the occupier or property owner is liable for the usage. As you failed to notify them of your move in, they are entilted to bill you for the whole period.

Burnoutmax

Thanks, just had to be sure

macman

You are jointly and severally liable for the debt, not just a fifth share of it each. The supplier will come after any or all of you for the full amount, how it is divided is purely a third party issue between the tenants.
If the LL had told you he would pay it over the summer, then how could you come to the conclusion that it was somehow included in your rent thereafter?
If you want to recover a share from the departed tenant, that is down to you to resolve, not the supplier.