If initial reading is higher than previous tenant's final reading, who pays?

DragonQ

When moving house, the move in day of the new owners tends to be the same as the move out day of the previous owners, so no issues arise. However, with tenancies, there's usually a couple of weeks in between where the property is empty. If anything has been left on during this time (e.g. hot water, heating or fridge), or electricity was used during cleaning, then the initial meter reading of the new tenant will be higher than the final meter reading of the previous tenant.

In this situation, who pays for the in-between usage? The previous tenant, new tenant, landlord or supplier?

Wywth

DragonQ wrote: »

When moving house, the move in day of the new owners tends to be the same as the move out day of the previous owners, so no issues arise. However, with tenancies, there's usually a couple of weeks in between where the property is empty. If anything has been left on during this time (e.g. hot water, heating or fridge), or electricity was used during cleaning, then the initial meter reading of the new tenant will be higher than the final meter reading of the previous tenant.

In this situation, who pays for the in-between usage? The previous tenant, new tenant, landlord or supplier?

The landlord becomes responsible for the supply during any void periods between tenancy agreements.

The LL should arrange to take over accounts during such void periods. Your ingoing meter reading should be the same as the outgoing one the LL provides the supplier, and by recording the same on the ingoing inventory/statement of condition any issues can usually be avoided