Timing of check-out inspection?

Fire_Fox

Why didn't you take meter readings and close your own accounts, could you not access the meters? The letting agent/ landlord should only be supplying meter readings to open their new account. Meter readings and paying utility bills are nothing to do with your deposit tho.

girl_withno_name

Well we took meter readings when we left on the Sunday (we next returned on the Thursday to mop the kitchen floor, after the LL had been at the property and carrying out work) - didn't think we could submit these, since the LA check-out guidance notes state that they will inform the gas/elec companies of final readings.

I think they're going to say "we won't be charging you for gas & elec used by the LL", close down the deposit and then close down the utilities accounts with the higher readings.

rpc

girl_withno_name wrote: »

Well we took meter readings when we left on the Sunday (we next returned on the Thursday to mop the kitchen floor, after the LL had been at the property and carrying out work) - didn't think we could submit these, since the LA check-out guidance notes state that they will inform the gas/elec companies of final readings.

I think they're going to say "we won't be charging you for gas & elec used by the LL", close down the deposit and then close down the utilities accounts with the higher readings.

And what business is it of the LA to be dealing with your contract with your energy supplier?

Call your suppliers with your meter readings and the date they were taken.

girl_withno_name

Didn't want to do anything we shouldn't... will now get this sorted tonight and let the LA know (I don't imagine this will make them happy but hey ho!)

Fire_Fox

girl_withno_name wrote: »

Well we took meter readings when we left on the Sunday (we next returned on the Thursday to mop the kitchen floor, after the LL had been at the property and carrying out work) - didn't think we could submit these, since the LA check-out guidance notes state that they will inform the gas/elec companies of final readings.

I think they're going to say "we won't be charging you for gas & elec used by the LL", close down the deposit and then close down the utilities accounts with the higher readings.

The agent/ landlord cannot close YOUR accounts. You need to ring through your own readings, the date you left and give a forwarding address for the final bill. What the agent and landlord do thereafter is not your problem. Letting agents use loads of unfair and unenforceable clauses and statements. They CANNOT charge your deposit for bills, you are liable and the utility company will chase you for any shortfall.

If you fail to keep the utilities informed they (Scottish Power, Yorkshire Water, Southern Electric or whoever) will close your accounts and they will assume closing readings based on the opening readings of the new account. You don't need to tell the landlord or agent anything about the bills, your accounts are none of their business.

girl_withno_name

The LA are now saying that should a dispute be raised then any costs incurred in preparing and providing evidence to the DPS will also be submitted to the DPS for reimbursement from our bond - is this something they can do? Apparently this information was given in the contract (which I don't have access to at the moment to check) and the check-out notes (can't find anything in here)

They've also given a 'final offer' which they seem to be trying to push us into agreeing to today... despite both me and my OH being in work, so not being able to discuss properly until this evening!

On the utilities front they claim they have a duty to advise these companies on behalf of the landlord so that our telephone call will be followed up with written confirmation.

DRP

girl_withno_name wrote: »

They've also given a 'final offer' which they seem to be trying to push us into agreeing to today... despite both me and my OH being in work, so not being able to discuss properly until this evening!

are you disagreeing with the deductions that they presented you with yesterday? do they have any evidence that the deductions are appropriate (signed inventory at start of rental?)

what benefit is it to you to accept the 'final offer'?

sounds like you'd be better off going through the dps

rpc

girl_withno_name wrote: »

The LA are now saying that should a dispute be raised then any costs incurred in preparing and providing evidence to the DPS will also be submitted to the DPS for reimbursement from our bond - is this something they can do? Apparently this information was given in the contract (which I don't have access to at the moment to check) and the check-out notes (can't find anything in here)

They can submit what they like. Whether the get it is totally different.

I suspect that the clause in your contract is unenforceable because it is unfair. Unless they will pay for you to instruct someone to prepare your case (i.e. it applies to both sides) it is almost certainly unfair.

They can go jump, but no need to tell them this as their unreasonable conduct may influence the adjudicator.

[QUTOE]On the utilities front they claim they have a duty to advise these companies on behalf of the landlord so that our telephone call will be followed up with written confirmation.
[/QUOTE]

They can claim what they like. It isn't necessarily true. Your account is your business alone. Your utility bills are no business of the agent or landlord. They cannot deal with your account, the only influence would be if their opening readings were taken as your closing readings.

If you submit closing readings, these should be used unless there is a large discrepancy between yours and theirs (at which point the supplier will query where all the energy went between the end of your account and the start of theirs).

girl_withno_name

DRP wrote: »

are you disagreeing with the deductions that they presented you with yesterday? do they have any evidence that the deductions are appropriate (signed inventory at start of rental?)

what benefit is it to you to accept the 'final offer'?

sounds like you'd be better off going through the dps

There was an inventory (written and photographic) at the beginning of the tenancy, signed by both parties. So far there doesn't seem to be anything from the end of the tenancy.

I suppose the benefit would be:
From our point of view - less hassle and can finally wash our hands of a property we haven't lived in for 6 weeks
From their point of view - they probably feel these additional charges will be off-putting and provide the benefit.I also suspect this is a "one day only" type of offer, which is designed to sway us

rpc wrote: »

They can submit what they like. Whether the get it is totally different.

I suspect that the clause in your contract is unenforceable because it is unfair. Unless they will pay for you to instruct someone to prepare your case (i.e. it applies to both sides) it is almost certainly unfair.

They can go jump, but no need to tell them this as their unreasonable conduct may influence the adjudicator.

[QUTOE]On the utilities front they claim they have a duty to advise these companies on behalf of the landlord so that our telephone call will be followed up with written confirmation.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

They can claim what they like. It isn't necessarily true. Your account is your business alone. Your utility bills are no business of the agent or landlord. They cannot deal with your account, the only influence would be if their opening readings were taken as your closing readings.

If you submit closing readings, these should be used unless there is a large discrepancy between yours and theirs (at which point the supplier will query where all the energy went between the end of your account and the start of theirs).

[/QUOTE]

Ok - maybe my question should have been whether they'd be likely to be awarded these costs?

I suspect that they will be submitting reading that don't match the readings we have submitted (not sure by how much) - since the LL has been using gas/elec and carrying out work since we were last at the property, but before the end of our tenancy.

girl_withno_name

Also - if they originally suggest one amount for deduction from deposit and then later submit a higher amount to the DPS - does anyone know how this would be viewed by the DPS?