Harrassment and Blackmail from Ex-Landlord

Vectis

I think if you want some help or advice you need to go back to G_M's post and answer the questions raised there.

If you left without paying final bills (gardeners, utilities etc), some of which could conceivably only come to light for the LL after you've left and had your deposit returned, then she would be within her rights to chase payment for these.

I'm intrigued too by the remark about telling people 'who you really are'. It's not a common expression, why would she say that?

FBaby

I did contact the compnay that she claims the utility bill is owed, it's simply from a transfer period from when I left, is like £20? All sorted...

So my assumption was correct. Even if she went about it in a ballistic way, you did owe her money yet ignored her. Why didn't you call the utility as soon as she raised the issue?

This is why many LL insists on bills being cleared before releasing the deposit, even if wrong, it is very frustrating to have to chase tenants who don't care at all because they know they won't be taken to court.

Filo25

FBaby wrote: »

So my assumption was correct. Even if she went about it in a ballistic way, you did owe her money yet ignored her. Why didn't you call the utility as soon as she raised the issue?

This is why many LL insists on bills being cleared before releasing the deposit, even if wrong, it is very frustrating to have to chase tenants who don't care at all because they know they won't be taken to court.

A tad unfair given that it sounded like the OP did request support for what was owed and the LL refused to provide it, instead preferring to going down the road of making some rather bizarre threats.

Its hardly just tenants who can behave horribly when it comes to the end of a tenancy either, I have rented numerous times in London and have had very varied experience of landlords over the years, some were excellent, some were just horrible chancers.

leslieknope

if it's a transfer period after you left, surely that's not your responsibility? i would probably pay the £20 just to shut her up but it doesn't seem like it was OP's bill.

FBaby

A tad unfair given that it sounded like the OP did request support for what was owed and the LL refused to provide it,

Not it isn't because the utility company would not have divulged what was actually owed, only what they would have been charging her and that could have included a monthly fee that might not have applied to OP.

I've been in her shoes so I know how it works. The utility companies couldn't care less who owes what, they just want their money. When I contacted them, they wouldn't tell me anything about the tenant bill, only that they said they'd left earlier than they really had and so were charging me for the usage after that time and adding fees.

OP was able to sort it out with one phone call AFTER being threatened. Why not do that immediately when it turned out the LL was right he owed money and leave at that?

Its hardly just tenants who can behave horribly when it comes to the end of a tenancy either,

Of course not, but we are commenting here about a specific scenario and my response relates to it not to every possible issues LL and tenants experience at the end of tenancy.

scd3scd4

Its £20 is all that's owned then I would think she is a pretty decent tenant.

bowlhead99

badlandlord283939 wrote: »

I did contact the compnay that she claims the utility bill is owed, it's simply from a transfer period from when I left, is like £20? All sorted...

In what way is it 'all sorted'?

Is it now all sorted out because after them telling you what was owed you paid it off there and then over the phone?

Or all sorted just in terms of you being happy with it because you determined it was for a period after the tenancy had formally ended, and everything accrued prior to the tenancy ending has already been paid off by you, so it's definitely the landlady's responsibility rather than yours? Or because even if it wasn't really hers it's only £20 so you don't think she will be taking you to court over that?

Blocked the number...and her nothing since.

Well if you blocked the number it's not surprising you haven't received any texts or calls to it since, because your phone won't have accepted them.

FBaby

scd3scd4 wrote: »

Its £20 is all that's owned then I would think she is a pretty decent tenant.

I don't consider anyone who doesn't pay their bills 'decent'. Would you have said the same if it was the other way around? Being a tenant doesn't make you less liable to paying your bills and the fact there are crap tenants owing thousands doesnt make those owing only £20 (ignoring the gardener bill in this case) pretty decent.

phillw

bowlhead99 wrote: »

Or all sorted just in terms of you being happy with it because you determined it was for a period after the tenancy had formally ended, and everything accrued prior to the tenancy ending has already been paid off by you, so it's definitely the landlady's responsibility rather than yours? Or because even if it wasn't really hers it's only £20 so you don't think she will be taking you to court over that?

I had assumed the OP didn't phone the utility company on the day they moved out with meter readings and request a final bill, or forgot to pay the final bill.

I wouldn't believe anything an energy company told me on the phone.

Comms69

Vectis wrote: »

I think if you want some help or advice you need to go back to G_M's post and answer the questions raised there.

If you left without paying final bills (gardeners, utilities etc), some of which could conceivably only come to light for the LL after you've left and had your deposit returned, then she would be within her rights to chase payment for these. - Except she's not, because the money isn't owed to her. I would have as much right to chase the OP for outstanding bills as the LL would.

I'm intrigued too by the remark about telling people 'who you really are'. It's not a common expression, why would she say that?

The bills are a private contract, no different to credit card or overdraft.