Outstanding bills for the occupier

Mulder00

We moved into our current rented property on 1 November and I promptly phoned British Gas to let them know that we moved in and give them meter readings. Everything was great and I've even received a welcome letter from them saying well...welcome...

Yesterday we received a letter from British Gas address to the occupier, so I opened it (since we are the occupiers). The bill is for a month and a half up until 31 October and the letter also states they have now closed the account as someone else moved into the property.

What do I do with it? Do I send it to the letting agents who are managing it, do I forward it to the owner of the property, do I bin it as it's not addressed to someone or I was even thinking of just paying it to get rid of it (it's £7.73!)?

Why would they send a bill to the occupier dated 13 November for a bill until 31 October (and even state on there that someone else moved in) when I've told them we are now in the property? Someone didn't think their process through properly I suspect!!!

Cardew

If they don't have a forwarding address, they can only send it to 'The Occupier' and hope it reaches old occupant.

I would send it to letting agent if you don't have old occupants new address.

Mulder00

I believe the place was empty for that period. Do I still send it to the letting agent then?

marty2be2000

When I moved into my current rented place, I received an electricity bill up to the point I took over and setup my account. I passed this to the letting agent, and that was the last I heard of that bill.

Pass the bill to the agent, and they will find the previous tenant. If the property was empty and their is a difference between the previous tenants final reading and the reading on this bill then the Landlord is liable. The letting agent will sort it all out for you.

brewerdave

@mulder00 -just make sure that you keep a record of your meter readings, dates of tenancy start,dates when you forwarded correspondence to letting agents etc etc, somewhere safe and keep it for as long as you are a tenant.
It is not unknown for letting agents/property owners to try to stick outgoing or incoming tenants with these "changeover" costs, and sometimes the bill gets passed on to debt collectors and reappears months or years down the line!:eek:

Mulder00

Yup. Its all noted on the inventory and I always take my own pictures too of the meter readings.

I have already double checked the bill to make sure they were charged correctly and that British Gas isn't "trying it on" with any funny business.