Please Help: Landlord not paying utilities

aqualily6

Please can you help us? Here is the situation:
7 Students in a rental house,
Bills are included in rent
Letter through post today saying that landlord has not paid the utilities and that its our final warning before the gas/electricity gets cut off.

We do not have anything to do with the utilities company (NPower) and the letting agency isnt being co-operative and the landlord is being hard to contact.

What can/should we do?

Thanks

Terrylw1

Who is the demand addressed to?

As long as your tenancy agreement states the utilities are not your responsibility, you are in no way liable, the landlord is.

However, the supplier probably wants fit a prepayment metet but you need to make them aware of the situation, give them the landlords contact details and let them chase him.

Have the bills been coming to the property? If so, they may not be aware of the landlord. If its not in his/her name, they definately don't.

macman

I find it incredible that anyone would rent a house to 7 students with all utilities inclusive (gas/electricity/water). It would be like handing them a blank cheque. Are you 100% certain that all this is stated in your STA? If not, as occupiers, you are jointly and severally liable.
Lean on the agency and tell them to inform the landlord that you will be witholding rent if he doesn't sort it out by return.

chanz4

The supplier won't be intrested in the Third party dispute, however you can remind the landlord that as per multiple occupancy dwellings he has an obligation to ensure a constant electricity supply. If you get no where contact you local council and ask for the housing standards team. Trust me it will get his attention as they will take him to court if your power goes off. Also is the fire alarm linked to the same supply.....

macman

Where does the OP state that the property is an HMO?

lemontart

macman wrote: »

Where does the OP state that the property is an HMO?

7 students sharing a house may be a clue

macman

That doesn't make it an HMO though-it may just be a large student house, separate bedrooms but sharing everything else.

redped

macman wrote: »

That doesn't make it an HMO though-it may just be a large student house, separate bedrooms but sharing everything else.

From directgov: "Your property is an HMO if you let (or plan to let) to at least three tenants who form more than one household and who share (or will share) toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities."

Sounds pretty much like what you've just described.

chanz4

cant say how I know, but will have to just trust me on this one

macman

There is no evidence (as yet) that the students form more than one household. That is the crucial part of the definition of an HMO.

chanz4

When the councils get involved it does