Utilities and Tenancy question (URGENT)

billquestion

Can an ex landlord from an ex flat I rented report me to an electricity utility company months after I moved out?

Explanation:
I used to rent a flat in England for a few months this year (from March until June).
Since I was new to the country I didn't know how utility bills work there so I let my landlord to sign me up for the utility companies, etc.
I did not pay the electricity bills because I did not receive any bills during the few months I lived there. However I received water bills so I paid those and the council tax as well.
A few weeks ago I called the electricity company to find out if I had any debts because in the meantime I learned that these debts can affect my credit score so I wanted to make sure that everything is fine. The customer service rep told me that there are no accounts for my name to that address for those months. I was relieved but I just realized that what if my landlord calls them and tells them that I lived there for those months. Is this possible? Can a landlord report a tenant like this even though the utility company has already told me that I had no accounts at them for that address? Or am I safe now and I shouldn't worry?

chanz4

yes, they just provide a copy of your agreement. Over here power is not free

billquestion

Is there any place in the world where power is free? The agreement is only a monthly rolling one, a very unofficial one. Is that good enough to prove anything?

So now if I call the company tell them that I lived there during that time even though someone else was registered and then I pay the required amount for those months...will this affect my credit score? That's my main concern.

chanz4

If you are with them rather than a dca you will be fine, but remeber your landlord has your tenancy

billquestion

chanz4 wrote: »

If you are with them rather than a dca you will be fine, but remeber your landlord has your tenancy

What do you mean by 'if you are with them rather than a dca'?

Terrylw1

Are you saying that your landlord has no tenancy agreement that's states who is liable for the utilities?

If so, with you saying its an unofficial basis and monthly rolling, is this is "cash in hand" agreement?

If there is no tenancy agreement, someone has to prove you used it. If your landlord has been making a cash in hand profit and avoiding paying tax, I would be surprised if he/she decided to try this given they will be in trouble for their failings.

billquestion

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Are you saying that your landlord has no tenancy agreement that's states who is liable for the utilities?

If so, with you saying its an unofficial basis and monthly rolling, is this is "cash in hand" agreement?

If there is no tenancy agreement, someone has to prove you used it. If your landlord has been making a cash in hand profit and avoiding paying tax, I would be surprised if he/she decided to try this given they will be in trouble for their failings.

There is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement unfortunately.
A one page one.
Its original term was one month but.
I doubt that my ex landlord would pay taxes after me, he didn't seem to fussy about making things legal. I'm not sure however.

macman

Why 'unfortunately? What is your objection to paying for the energy used during your tenancy? Your STA will prove to the utility company that you were responsible for the bills during the period of the tenancy. Whether you signed up for an account or not, you are still liable for any power used in that period.
In future, sign up for your own utilities and don't trust it to landlords or agents.
It will only affect your credit score if you don't pay and a default is recorded.

brewerdave

Forget your worry about DCAs and credit scores?? In your situation I would be much more worried about the l/lord sticking you with the responsibilty for a huge Utility bill in the future-presumably in such "informal" circumstances you don't have any opening or closing meter reads???

Wywth

billquestion wrote: »

Can an ex landlord from an ex flat I rented report me to an electricity utility company months after I moved out?

Explanation:
I used to rent a flat in England for a few months this year (from March until June).
Since I was new to the country I didn't know how utility bills work there so I let my landlord to sign me up for the utility companies, etc.
I did not pay the electricity bills because I did not receive any bills during the few months I lived there. However I received water bills so I paid those and the council tax as well.
A few weeks ago I called the electricity company to find out if I had any debts because in the meantime I learned that these debts can affect my credit score so I wanted to make sure that everything is fine. The customer service rep told me that there are no accounts for my name to that address for those months. I was relieved but I just realized that what if my landlord calls them and tells them that I lived there for those months. Is this possible? Can a landlord report a tenant like this even though the utility company has already told me that I had no accounts at them for that address? Or am I safe now and I shouldn't worry?

Don't worry about your credit history.

If you are as new to this country as you claim, you won't have a good credit history anyway

Wywth

billquestion wrote: »

There is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement unfortunately.
A one page one.
Its original term was one month but.
I doubt that my ex landlord would pay taxes after me, he didn't seem to fussy about making things legal. I'm not sure however.

Nope, the initial term of an ASTA in this country is a minimum of 6 months.