Asked for bills 2 years after moving out

AlphaSatsuma

Hi all,

Appreciate any input on this.
I have recently been contacted by a previous landlord of a property I moved out of 2 years ago and lived in for 4 years saying he didn't get round to sorting out the bills and will therefore be calculating what I owe him.
Technically in the contract it stated that I was liable for my portion of (it was a bedroom in a 4 bed house) electricity, gas and council tax, but he never actually collected it in the time I was there.
Does anyone know if there is any statute of limitations on asking for any historical debt like this?

Thanks,

Carrot007

6 years like all debts. (5 Scotland).

Comms69

AlphaSatsuma wrote: »

Hi all,

Appreciate any input on this.
I have recently been contacted by a previous landlord of a property I moved out of 2 years ago and lived in for 4 years saying he didn't get round to sorting out the bills and will therefore be calculating what I owe him. - what do you mean sorting the bills out? Did you pay bills whilst there?
Technically in the contract it stated that I was liable for my portion of (it was a bedroom in a 4 bed house) electricity, gas and council tax, but he never actually collected it in the time I was there.
Does anyone know if there is any statute of limitations on asking for any historical debt like this? - 6 years

Thanks,

Most landlords imply include utilities in the bills, as there would be issues between different people moving in and out; but ultimately yes you may be liable for this.


A years worth of bills would be a significant amount

nyermen

I'm guessing the landlord has already paid the bills. Interesting "moral" (wrong word?) thought that since utility companies cant bill back beyond a certain period (12 months?) should you have to pay back beyond 12 months either.

Carrot007

nyermen wrote: »

thought that since utility companies cant bill back beyond a certain period (12 months?) should you have to pay back beyond 12 months either.

Simply not true.


Voluntary code of coduct. Not law.


Only applies to the big companies who are signed up to it. (The small ones are not).


Only applies if you made efforts to pay the bill and they messed up.




And certainly does not apply here, as the landlord was paying the bills.

AlphaSatsuma

And what would be the repurcussions of I just didn't pay. I'm currently living abroad so could technically just not pay...

shortcrust

AlphaSatsuma wrote: »

And what would be the repurcussions of I just didn't pay. I'm currently living abroad so could technically just not pay...

Just pay the money you owe for goodness sake. Why would you not?!

Comms69

AlphaSatsuma wrote: »

And what would be the repurcussions of I just didn't pay. I'm currently living abroad so could technically just not pay...

A CCJ; enforceable with-in the EU

Carrot007

AlphaSatsuma wrote: »

And what would be the repurcussions of I just didn't pay. I'm currently living abroad so could technically just not pay...

Depends on how much the landlord cares and what they might do.


Small claims is cheap and would result in a CCJ if you ignore it.


Would cause problems if you ever planned to come back. (well possibly 6/12 years).

Harvic

Your landlord sounds like an idiot, but agree you will have to pay. I would insist on seeing full bills covering the time you were there and divide by agreed proportion you owe. Also no way that you should pay any interest on the sum, so you may save a little overall with inflation!

AlphaSatsuma

shortcrust wrote: »

Just pay the money you owe for goodness sake. Why would you not?!

Because it will be a considerable amount of money ~£3000 I suspect

Harvic wrote: »

Your landlord sounds like an idiot

I don't think he's an idiot, he just has so much money he doesn't really care...