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Lodger advice needed - bills after vacating
peace_lily_2
Posts: 15 Forumite
Hi there
For the last year I have been subletting from a tenant, who is letting from a landlord (with landlord's permission).
Back in January I gave my 8 weeks notice (as stated in our original agreement), meaning the last day would be 28th Feb.
I moved out on 31st January, vacated the property and gave returned the keys.
I have explained that I have informed the council that I have moved, and therefore they do not expect me to pay council tax for this property.
She told me last week when I moved out that the next day, she would contact the energy supplier for a final bill up to the date I moved out.
However, she has now told me that I will still owe her money for ALL bills, including energy bills and council tax, up to the final date on my notice period. It was not stated on our original agreement that rent and bills would be paid up until the end of the 8 week notice period - I'm not sure if this is relevant, or if it is implied in the agreement and does not need to be stated explicitly?
Rent and bills (with a breakdown) were listed separately on the 'original agreement'. Since our original agreement, she has also charged me another £70.50 on top of our original agreement for energy bills, which I dutifully paid without having access to the energy bills. I have also paid an additional £120 for council tax, as she had been fraudulently claiming single person discount which I was not aware of, and then when the council found out she demanded that I pay the difference, which I paid despite my being liable in the eyes of the council. Although- she tried to charge me £200 for this as it turns out she had also been underpaying council tax anyway! I also paid her £55 when she renewed her own contract with her landlord, as I didn't want to cause any problems with her as she can (obviously) be very difficult. At that time she said if I wanted to stay that I should contribute to that charge.
I have agreed to pay rent up until the last day of my notice period.
Any advice on what I should do? I have already paid her so much extra money on top of our original agreement, and really don't feel as though I'm liable for these bills now that I've given the key back and vacated the property, and informed the council.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks
For the last year I have been subletting from a tenant, who is letting from a landlord (with landlord's permission).
Back in January I gave my 8 weeks notice (as stated in our original agreement), meaning the last day would be 28th Feb.
I moved out on 31st January, vacated the property and gave returned the keys.
I have explained that I have informed the council that I have moved, and therefore they do not expect me to pay council tax for this property.
She told me last week when I moved out that the next day, she would contact the energy supplier for a final bill up to the date I moved out.
However, she has now told me that I will still owe her money for ALL bills, including energy bills and council tax, up to the final date on my notice period. It was not stated on our original agreement that rent and bills would be paid up until the end of the 8 week notice period - I'm not sure if this is relevant, or if it is implied in the agreement and does not need to be stated explicitly?
Rent and bills (with a breakdown) were listed separately on the 'original agreement'. Since our original agreement, she has also charged me another £70.50 on top of our original agreement for energy bills, which I dutifully paid without having access to the energy bills. I have also paid an additional £120 for council tax, as she had been fraudulently claiming single person discount which I was not aware of, and then when the council found out she demanded that I pay the difference, which I paid despite my being liable in the eyes of the council. Although- she tried to charge me £200 for this as it turns out she had also been underpaying council tax anyway! I also paid her £55 when she renewed her own contract with her landlord, as I didn't want to cause any problems with her as she can (obviously) be very difficult. At that time she said if I wanted to stay that I should contribute to that charge.
I have agreed to pay rent up until the last day of my notice period.
Any advice on what I should do? I have already paid her so much extra money on top of our original agreement, and really don't feel as though I'm liable for these bills now that I've given the key back and vacated the property, and informed the council.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks
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Comments
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There is nothing she can do so I would block her number on my phone and chalk it up to experience. She!!!8217;s had enough0
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Should probably have also mentioned, she has £1200 of my money as a deposit!
So don't really want to just let that go...!0 -
My lodger pays me £10 per night, a week at a time and in advance, I guess you have a very different arrangement.
Sounds like you have paid enough to me.0 -
Does your tenancy say you are liable for bills for the duration of your tenancy. If so why would the last 8 weeks be exempt?
I understand why you would feel energy bills may not be as you aren't using it (through choice). Really does depend on what you agrèed.
2 months is very generous notice for a lodger0 -
Strictly speaking you owe rent and utilitties as per your contract till your licence to occupy expires.
Having said that, if you're not living there, it's a pretty tight landlord who demands utility payments.
Trouble is, "possession is 9/10ths of the law" and the landlord possesses your deposit.......0 -
I don't have a tenancy agreement.
No, our original agreement by email does not say that explicitly say that I am liable for bills for the duration of my tenancy including the notice period. I agree that if this was stated explicitly, of course I would pay! It's a bit of a grey area I suppose.
This is one of my questions.0 -
2 months notice is what stated on our original agreement, and so that's what I gave0
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You would technically be expected to pay for the duration of the agreememt0
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Is your 'landlord' living in the property ?I have explained that I have informed the council that I have moved, and therefore they do not expect me to pay council tax for this property.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
CIS - yes my 'landlord' (the tenant) lives in the property. The actual landlord (owner) of the property does not.0
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