All bills included?!

leeconvery

Hi all, I need some advice - apologies if this isn't the right place to post.
I have a colleague who was renting a room in a property for 3 months at £65 per week with all bills included. After the first month another tenant left and my colleague found that the bills had been in his name. The landlord approached my colleague and asked for her name to be put on the bills. Perhaps a little naively she agreed to this on the assurance that the bills would still be paid by the landlord.
She then left the property, but has since had an email from the energy company asking for £160 urgently. On flagging this to the landlord, she was informed by the landlord that she wouldn't pay it. Obviously the energy company are unwilling to help with anything but arranging a payment scheme. I guess that this needs to be chalked off as a learning experience but was wondering if there is anything anybody can suggest she tries? Many Thanks.

Nada666

Both landlord and tenant are stupid (uhm, I mean that in the formal sense!). Tenant is liable to pay the bill. Whether they can prove that they have a real agreement with the landlord is almost irrelevant. The tenant owes money to the energy supplier and has to pay up. The tenant can chase the landlord but has to pay the bill first. Chances of getting a penny from the landlord is almost zero. Chances of legal small claims action (by tenant) succeeding is pretty low.

lvf

By agreeing to have the name on the bill, your colleague has entered into a contract with the supplier.

As your colleague's name is on the bill and the landlord is not willing to take responsibility, all debt recovery will be against your colleague.

As above, your colleague will still have to pay the bill, and later chase the landlord for the money back, but as mentioned this is very unlikely as unless anything was put in writing, there is no proof unfortunately that such an agreement ever existed.

leeconvery

Thanks guys - appreciate the support