EDF energy debt recovery

pramsay13

I'm rent out my old property, and a tenant moved out end Oct 11 and the new one didn't move in until Dec 11, so there was a gap of 1 month. The previous tenant moved out a few days early, so I went in on Nov 1st and turned off gas and electric. The readings I have from then are the readings that the new tenant gave when reconnecting.
This week I got a debt recovery saying that I owed £26.80 for the time between the two.
I assumed that the person leaving had given them a reading a few days before leaving, but left the heating etc on, so it incurred more cost, but the debt recovery person is saying there is probably a standard charge on it.
Am I responsible for this even though I didn't sign up for that account that has standing charges? It's been empty for 3 months a few years back and there were no charges.

tbs624

pramsay13 wrote: »

I'm rent out my old property, and a tenant moved out end Oct 11 and the new one didn't move in until Dec 11, so there was a gap of 1 month. The previous tenant moved out a few days early, so I went in on Nov 1st and turned off gas and electric. The readings I have from then are the readings that the new tenant gave when reconnecting.
This week I got a debt recovery saying that I owed £26.80 for the time between the two.
I assumed that the person leaving had given them a reading a few days before leaving, but left the heating etc on, so it incurred more cost, but the debt recovery person is saying there is probably a standard charge on it.

If you went into the property on Nov 1st to turn G&E off did you not also check the final end of tenancy meter readings for yourself? You could then have checked with EDF what figures had been given by the outgoing T

Experienced LLs usually offer up a proforma sheet with the meter readings on, and both LL and T sign to say that they agree that these are correct at respective tenancy start/end

Do you always notify the utility company of when a new T moves in/out and also pass on the Ts name/forwarding address, confirming that the tenancy agreement makes them responsible for utility costs for the duration of their tenancy?

If you know you have a tenancy void coming up then ensure that you either (a) check regulalrly at the property for any post duing that void and/or (b) make sure that the utiltiy companies have your own current address on record so that you can deal with any issues promptly.

You've known that the property has been empty for several weeks so did you go and check the latest meter readings prior to the new T moving in?

pramsay13 wrote: »

Am I responsible for this even though I didn't sign up for that account that has standing charges? It's been empty for 3 months a few years back and there were no charges.

It's your property and you need to safeguard your own liability by double checking the meter readings on tenancy start and end.

If you think a standing charge may be involved, have you actually talked to EDF about the charge you are being asked to pay, rather than asking the debt recovery person who will simply know that there is a figure of £x that remains unpaid, not how it arose.

It's about the basics of being a LL.

pramsay13

Thanks for the reply TBS.
The previous tenant was due to leave on 31st October although sent me a message a few days before saying they had left already as they had new place to go to and posted keys through.
I went in on 1st Nov and turned off supply and noted meter readings.
These readings tally with the ones the new tenant gave to gas company at end of November.
I don't have any paperwork for meter readings and I don't inform utility company when someone leaves / starts as I never have any dealings with utility companies. That has always been done by the tenants themselves.
I appreciate that I should safeguard my liability, but I never know which company the tenants have chosen and I am never in contact with the utility companies.
EDF haven't contacted me about this issue so I don't have any point of contact or reference with which to query the bill. They've obviously just sold the debt to a company who have found out my details.

tbs624

pramsay13 wrote: »

I don't have any paperwork for meter readings and I don't inform utility company when someone leaves / starts as I never have any dealings with utility companies. That has always been done by the tenants themselves.
I appreciate that I should safeguard my liability, but I never know which company the tenants have chosen and I am never in contact with the utility companies.

You need to up your game on this one because the water companies in particular *will* land you with the water bill to pay if the T fails to do so and you haven't notified them of the relevant info on the tenancy.

You can always check which supplier is being used - clause in contract confirming T is free to choose supplier but must confirm in writing to you who it is and/or see http://www.ukpower.co.uk/who-supplies-my-gas-and-electricity

pramsay13 wrote: »

EDF haven't contacted me about this issue so I don't have any point of contact or reference with which to query the bill. They've obviously just sold the debt to a company who have found out my details.

If they have passed it to a debt collector then there must be some "point of reference" somewhere. Was there no bill sent to the property? No tenancy void letter addressed "to the occupier"?

In your situation I'd ask the debt collection firm to provide full infopronto ,and then follow it up with EDF if you think the charge is wrong but tbh you are probably going to have to cough up because of your lack of paperwork - just remember the bill can be set down for your tax return ( you are declaring your rental income aren't you?