Welsh water/Wescot chasing for debt I know nothing about?

EmmaD0404

Hellooo good peeps... I don't know if this is in the right section or not but I could do with some advice.

Here's some background info: my landlord is my son's grandfather (it's just me and my son living in the house I moved in May last year before he was born) and from the moment I moved in he said not to worry about the water bill as he'd take it out of the rent. I totally forgot about it after having the baby.

The water was left in his name and all correspondence was addressed to him, it was only very recently I noticed the number of letters increasing more and more. (perhaps I should have been suspicious that the letters were still coming here?) The last letter that arrived in his name was at the end of last month.

Today, however, I had a letter from Wescot demanding that I cough up 1,450.50?!?! Surely that amount would be from before I even lived at the address? Both previous houses I've lived at have had water bills of less than 600 a year plus I'm a student so the house is empty most of the week.

Is there anything I can do or say to dispute this and not pay? I understand that it's me who's been using the water but as far as I was concerned all bills were being paid from my rent money (by a man I should be able to trust!) and I sure as hell haven't used a grand and a half's worth of water!

Any help would be appreciated before I march down there and have his guts for garters :mad::mad:

wegle

Have you contacted your landlord to see what he says? I'm not sure on the legalities but I would think unless it is stipulated in your tenancy agreement that the rent payable including water costs then you would be liable. Someone more knowledgeable should be along in a minute to confirm though. Does it say in your tenancy about water being covered in the rent payments?

EmmaD0404

I'm trying to dig it out now but think I'll have to wait until the little un is in bed. My landlord is saying that he hasn't changed any names with anyone but he admitted to not paying the bill since I moved in! As I said though the amount must be since he actually bought the house as I've not been here that long. Is it possible that they'd have looked on the electoral roll and taken my name because they were chasing him for payment?