How to prove that I have paid all the utility bills on the day of moving out

Deisler

Hi All,

I have notified my landlord that I will move out in 2 months. Then he asked me to provide some evidence to prove that I have paid the council tax and all the bills to the date that I will move out in order to get my deposit back.

I know how I conclude the council tax payment. But problem here is how can I get some evidence from the power supplier to prove I have paid the bills till the day I leave?? I need to give them the readings and I guess it would take a while for the supplier to provide the proof of payment.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
D

molerat

You will not be able to prove it and the contracts between the utilities, the council and you are no business of the landlord or their agents. They cannot withhold the deposit for those reasons.

macman

As above. And, as you say, you will not get your final bills until after you submit closing readings on the last day.
Tell your LL that they are not liable anyway and it's none of their concern.
Sounds like they are new to letting.

dogshome

Hmmm - I don't think that telling the L/lord what he/she can or cannot do is the best way to get a speedy return of a deposit

Maybe this L'lord has had a tenant skip owing rent/utilites and without that tenants final meter readings, the L'lord has been lumbered with part of the tenants bills.

Have a friendly word with the Landlord and propose that on the day you leave, you Email the all the utility suppliers with copies to the landlord, giving the Final Meter readings and your forwarding address for their Final Bills.

Be aware that your deposit is held or registered by one of three Agencies which is great for a tenants protection, but involves paperwork at the end of a tenancy that takes time.

G_M

You do not have to prove this to your LL.

The contract is between you and the gas/elecric company, not him.

Just move out, then request your deposit back (in writing).

It is then for the LL to either:

1) return your deposit or
2) give a reason not to. And your bill with the gas company is NOT a reason to withold your deposit. Nor is your bill with your mobile company, your car insurance, your dope dealer or anyone else you may or may not owe money to!

I base the above on the assumptions

1)you are in Eng/Wales (not Scotland)
2)your deposit is registered as required by law (Housing Act 2004 )

G_M

dogshome wrote: »

Hmmm - I don't think that telling the L/lord what he/she can or cannot do is the best way to get a speedy return of a deposit

Maybe this L'lord has had a tenant skip owing rent/utilites and without that tenants final meter readings, the L'lord has been lumbered with part of the tenants bills.
Impossible as the utility co can only chase the person named on the bill - the tenant. Landlord simply gives the utility company the meter readingon day tenant leaves, andisliable thereafter.

Have a friendly word with the Landlord and propose that on the day you leave, you Email the all the utility suppliers with copies to the landlord, giving the Final Meter readings and your forwarding address for their Final Bills.
Ideally, on exit, both LL & tenant read meters, and note readings on the check-out inspection report, which they sign and each keep a copy of.

Be aware that your deposit should be held or registered by one of four Agencies 5 schemes) which is great for a tenants protection, but involves paperwork at the end of a tenancy that takes time.

but not much time.

keith1950

need to give them the readings and I guess it would take a while for the supplier

I agree with what has been advised so far however as far as this part of your question, you would not be able the provide proof until the accounts had finally been settled and this can be several weeks.

The last time I left NPower it took them 2 months to finalise my accounts from the date I provided them with final readings.

Pineapple88

Make sure you take pictures of the meters on the day you move out in case the landlord disputes the readings.

With a change of tenancy you should give the power company the name of the landlord/letting agency and they will start a new account in their name. You should usually receive the final bill within 30 days.