Housing association/landlord not paying debt?

parkrunner

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

They wouldn't take the OP to court as long as they pay their own bill they would take the person named for the debt (ie the ex tenant to court).

Heather2603 wrote: »

Why are you opening these letters? They are surely addressed to the debtor? All you have to do is keep returning them and making sure you are paying your energy bills. If a bailiff turns up you tell them you are not the named person and show them id. Job done.

Good points, OP can you clarify?

Norman_Castle

ChrisDA95 wrote: »

Also seems unfair that the HA keep telling me they will "sort it out", but clearly they aren't sorting it out..

The HA have proved themselves incapable of sorting it out (get used to it). Mark the letters, Not at this address-Return to sender, then put them in a post box.

If you are not responsible for this debt you have nothing to fear from bailiffs or the courts.

Pixie5740

What exactly can the HA do to sort out the bill anyway? They are not liable for the previous tenant's utility usage any more than you are OP.

All you had to do was the same as anyone else moving into a new home, take the meter readings and give them to the current suppliers.

Marvel1

Did you take meter readings when you first went in and give them to the utility company.

G_M

As above:

* The HA has no responsibility for the previous tenant's debt
* The HA cannot 'sort it out'

Some questions just to be clear:

1) Whose name is on the letters and bills?
2) Do you now have an account for utilities in your own name?
3) Is your own account paid up to date, and was it initially based on agreed meter readings from the date you moved in?

Assuming all is in order (as above), then what's to worry about?

* bailiffs cannot take belongings from the property that belong to you, in order to pay a debt in someone else's name
* no court would find against you if you were taken to court over a debt in someone else's name

Stop worrying.

But if you're still worried, then continue hassling the utility supplier (eg daily phone calls to their freephone0800 number) untill they stop writing!