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Landlord asking for proof of paid utilities before release of deposit
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I fail to see the problem here. You have to pay the untility bills for the property you have vacated so why not just pay them send the copies to the landlord and get your deposit released?
Your landlord is just trying to make sure that he doesn't have to chase you to pay your untility bills on his property.
When you moved out of the rented property and read the meters you should have then asked the utility companies for the final bill for those meters at that address. You say that you have already moved into your new home so it shouldn't be all that long now for the bills to come through.
Plus, as already said, you can ask for them at any time and demand they process them a.s.a.p. especially if they want to retain you as a customer. Why are you making such a big deal of something so mundane?0 -
Utility bills in tenants names have nothing to do with the LL so it's no reason to withhold the deposit.
It's extremely easy to get the utilites off your back. You simply call them and tell then the previous tenants have left. It really is that simple, done it dozens of times.
The deposit will be returned as soon as the excuse has been mentioned.0 -
I fail to see the problem here. You have to pay the untility bills for the property you have vacated so why not just pay them send the copies to the landlord and get your deposit released?
The OP wants the deposit back so they can pay the final bills. Presumably, all their spare cash has been used for mortgage deposit.0 -
Thank you everyone.
water suppliers for both properties are the same hence why we have been able to transfer that account over. Energy suppliers are different and from previous dealings with npower I know that they can take a while to produce final bills following meter readings.
My issue is not paying the bills as I know we need to, it's actually having the money to pay them which is tied up in the deposit and feeling like we are having our deposit held to ransom despite having no issues at check out or throughout the tenancy. As has been speculated previously, we have sunk all our money into the new house so don't have anything spare right now to pay the last bills.
I agree they don't want to get stung with our bills but they wouldn't, and should have rang through their own meter readings/notified council regardless.Debt free finally :j
First house purchase ... 2018 :j0 -
Utility bills in tenants names have nothing to do with the LL so it's no reason to withhold the deposit.
It's extremely easy to get the utilites off your back. You simply call them and tell then the previous tenants have left. It really is that simple, done it dozens of times.
The deposit will be returned as soon as the excuse has been mentioned.
The excuse?Debt free finally :j
First house purchase ... 2018 :j0 -
Trixsie1989 wrote: »Thank you everyone.
water suppliers for both properties are the same hence why we have been able to transfer that account over. Energy suppliers are different and from previous dealings with npower I know that they can take a while to produce final bills following meter readings.
My issue is not paying the bills as I know we need to, it's actually having the money to pay them which is tied up in the deposit and feeling like we are having our deposit held to ransom despite having no issues at check out or throughout the tenancy. As has been speculated previously, we have sunk all our money into the new house so don't have anything spare right now to pay the last bills.
I agree they don't want to get stung with our bills but they wouldn't, and should have rang through their own meter readings/notified council regardless.
I hope nothing breaks in the new house. You can't get this close to not having any money if you own a house. What have you got in the bank now to pay the mortgage if you lose your job next month?0 -
Trixsie1989 wrote: »The excuse?
That your LL is withholding it to cover utility bills; it is not a legitimate excuse, it is a crock of bull excreta.
If you are with nPower, just do as I do and escalate if you don't get the answer you want at the first time of asking. Say you want to speak to their manager; if they can't resolve the problem say you will raise an official complaint, then do it. If they won't put you through there and then, the direct number is 0800 316 9328. Make sure you get a ref. no. and take no BS.
It is just a final bill, there will probably be no need to get heavy but let them know you will not be fobbed off. If you get too much of the runaround, make sure you get some compensation out of it. :money:
This is the first step to an adventure. You will learn and gain a great deal if you just have the stones to go for it. Your choice but you know this forum is a great place to come for advice about all sorts of things. It ain't going away.
Good luck and updates, please.0 -
Trixsie1989 wrote: »Good morning all,
Can anyone help me out with this please... We have recently moved out of rented into our own bought house. Had final inspection/check out and no issues found so no deductions needed from our deposit. We have applied to DPS for our deposit back and landlord has now sent a text telling us that until they have proof that our utilities are all paid they won't release the deposit.
Thanks
Landlords often write lots of nonsense clauses into tenancy agreements, whether their legally enforceable or not is quite another question.
The one about "proof of final bills" etc is one of the more common nonsense clauses which, has been tested numerous times in county court and guess who the loser is? Yep, Mr "I've been to the online forum school of law" Landlord.
A landlord has no legal right (even more so now with the new GDPR rules), to your personal information held by utility companies or any right to know the current status of YOUR contractual obligations between ANYONE.
The landlord is not responsible for the tenants utility bills and cannot use that an excuse to withhold the deposit, period!0 -
I hope nothing breaks in the new house. You can't get this close to not having any money if you own a house. What have you got in the bank now to pay the mortgage if you lose your job next month?
Everything that could break in the new house has... Another reason why we currently have very little free cash. Once payday has been this month though we are back in the green. Things are just tight right now 👍Debt free finally :j
First house purchase ... 2018 :j0 -
That your LL is withholding it to cover utility bills; it is not a legitimate excuse, it is a crock of bull excreta.
If you are with nPower, just do as I do and escalate if you don't get the answer you want at the first time of asking. Say you want to speak to their manager; if they can't resolve the problem say you will raise an official complaint, then do it. If they won't put you through there and then, the direct number is 0800 316 9328. Make sure you get a ref. no. and take no BS.
It is just a final bill, there will probably be no need to get heavy but let them know you will not be fobbed off. If you get too much of the runaround, make sure you get some compensation out of it. :money:
This is the first step to an adventure. You will learn and gain a great deal if you just have the stones to go for it. Your choice but you know this forum is a great place to come for advice about all sorts of things. It ain't going away.
Good luck and updates, please.
Thank you
Yeah that's what we thought about it, we've lived in a few rentals and they've never asked for proof before deposit release 🙄
I will chase up tomorrow and see how far I get with it all.Debt free finally :j
First house purchase ... 2018 :j0
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