Just took over flat - previous tenant bills unpaid / unregistered

theone999

OK. So I just took over a new flat. The one above me. (yeah, so i rent 2 flats now, have own reasons for doing so it's one of those big victorian houses sometimes legally split into flats, so i'm going to be paying for 2 lots of gas + elec metres)

One of the first things I see is a debt collection letters, and bills from the utilities companies. It turns out that my previously very friendly neighbour was not a fan of paying utilities bills. Having run up a debt of hundreds of pounds not even in his own name for his electricity. And it seems he never bothered registering for the gas either, it still says "Occupier". And judging from the dates on the bill, the tenant before him didn't register either.

Well, what are my options now?

*The electricity account has been sent to a debt collector (disconnection letter soon?)
*The gas account, despite being from the same supplier, still says unoccupied, and the supplier doesn't seem to have cottoned onto the fact that they were billing a name for elec but occupier for gas. (has gone on for at least a year)

I, obviously have been a paragon of virtue, having paid my bills in my own legal flat downstairs (even though physically it's in the same house) and do not want to be chased for bills or have the utilities disconnected. To make things worse, I'm about to go on holiday in 48 hours for 6 weeks, the landlord is already on holiday

*I was going to try to switch suppliers for both the electricity/gas asap anyway to get dual fuel discount etc and also because I now rent 2 flats, i want everything to be on the same plan / supplier.

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Sorry for the long post above. What can you suggest I do in the next 48 hours before I leave on holiday?

Ms_Chocaholic

How are you renting the flat upstairs?
Do you have any official paperwork that confirms the date that your tenancy of the upstairs flat started.

theone999

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

How are you renting the flat upstairs?
Do you have any official paperwork that confirms the date that your tenancy of the upstairs flat started.

well no. i have a tenancy paperwork for the flat downstairs. i had a verbal agreement with the landlord before he went on holiday that once the previous tenant left (he has now, and the landlord told him to give me the keys to everything), the upstairs flat was mine. when landlord gets bk from holiday, i'll be another 4 weeks yet

vuvuzela

Take meter readings from when you get the keys and give these to the gas/electric company. The previous person's usage is not your responsibility.

theone999

vuvuzela wrote: »

Take meter readings from when you get the keys and give these to the gas/electric company. The previous person's usage is not your responsibility.

But I have no formal tenancy agreement until both the landlord and I are back from holiday. And I worry in my absence.

Nada666

theone999 wrote: »

But I have no formal tenancy agreement until both the landlord and I are back from holiday. And I worry in my absence.

So what? You have access today. Do as advised, take readings and inform the suppliers. Go on holiday. Worry if you like.

Noah'strolly

Don't move any of your stuff into the new flat until you get it sorted. Make sure you have a copy of any correspondence you have with the supplier and ask them to confirm verbal stuff in writing .

quidsy

You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

Contact the suppliers, give them readings & date you took over. Return any letters for previous tenant as addressee unknown.

What happened prior to your taking over the flat has nothing to do with you. It is up to the energy provider to chase the previous tenant.

I had similar with water bill, sent letters back, called & registered myself as bill payer from date of move in & no issues in over 18 months. They do ask if you know the name of the owner of the property, presumably to contact them for any forwarding info of the last tenant but again, not your problem.

[Deleted User]

Are the meters at the upstairs flat prepay meters, I find it hard to believe that if no bills were paid by the last and previous tenant that the supplier allowed the credit meters to remain in situ. Locksmith and a warrant would ve been taken out and the prepay meters forceably fitted. Free energy is not quite here yet for transient flat dwellers. Its not a question of the suppliers not "cottoning " on about the word "occupier " on the bill , if the occupier does nt fancy giving their name , whats their option. It does nt matter either if it says "occupier " the tenant is still liable for all energy costs. Why do I feel suspicious about this strange set-up of having two flats , two rents, two lots of water/council tax/tv licences