Landlord charging backdated utilities

kilan

Hi to the fellow members on here I am seeking some advice.

I have been sent an invoice asking for 6 months backdated charges for water and landline and internet without being provided with any written notice in advance regarding these new additional charges.

Previously this was included in the rent and my tenancy agreement stipulates Water and Phone and Internet is provided within the rent.

How am I expected to pay hefty utility charges without being informed of these changes?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Comms69

Ignore it?


But be prepared to move

kilan

Comms69 wrote: »

Ignore it?


But be prepared to move

I am concerned if I ignore it might get worse they could add a larger utility bill or add anything backdated as they seem to be doing so willy-nilly without any sufficient written notice.

Comms69

kilan wrote: »

I am concerned if I ignore it might get worse they could add a larger utility bill or add anything backdated as they seem to be doing so willy-nilly without any sufficient written notice.

So? You have a document which shows you don't owe it.


What would you do if I sent you an invoice for £1,000?


Stop going on about notice. It suggests you're actually willing to accept the situation, which is madness itself

stator

If your tenancy says the bills are included in the rent then don't pay it.

kilan

Comms69 wrote: »

So? You have a document which shows you don't owe it.


What would you do if I sent you an invoice for £1,000?


Stop going on about notice. It suggests you're actually willing to accept the situation, which is madness itself

I am certainly not willing to accept the situation and that invoice. Its only natural to have expected a notice of some kind before a monthly fee of utility charges began 6 months ago.

None of the utility bills is under my name, it's under the landlords in a block of flats.

kilan

stator wrote: »

If your tenancy says the bills are included in the rent then don't pay it.

Yeah, I am certainly not willing to pay, however, I think they will force me to agree to a new tenancy agreement for a period of 6 months but I am not planning to stay for that long or they will probably provide me notice for eviction.

Comms69

kilan wrote: »

I am certainly not willing to accept the situation and that invoice. Its only natural to have expected a notice of some kind before a monthly fee of utility charges began 6 months ago.

None of the utility bills is under my name, it's under the landlords in a block of flats.

FGS! What notice? How much would you like?


The correct answer is - there is no notice you should accept!!!


I think you're not reading what I'm actually saying. Forget talking about notice.

AnotherJoe

Rather than ignore it id write a very short letter back to the landlord pointing out that since your tenancy agreement stipulates that rent includes the services mentioned, he’s obviously made a mistake. I’d leave it at that and not even say “therefore I wont be paying it”.

I’d also expect sometime later to get a letter telling you that either rent is going up, services will no longer be included, or they would like you to leave.

kilan

Comms69 wrote: »

FGS! What notice? How much would you like?


The correct answer is - there is no notice you should accept!!!


I think you're not reading what I'm actually saying. Forget talking about notice.

I understood you clearly, you are advising not to talk about any notice, now I will probably be forced to move with an eviction notice, do I have any grounds regarding this.

Comms69

kilan wrote: »

I understood you clearly, you are advising not to talk about any notice, now I will probably be forced to move with an eviction notice, do I have any grounds regarding this.

No, because s.21 notice of intention to evict (not an eviction notice itself.) is no-fault. It can be used no matter what. - it could be used even if you paid.