Given notice to LL on AST - who covers bills

Roxanna319

Hello.

Just about to complete on our first home on Monday. :money: We are currently in a 3 year AST which ends next April. The LL has kindly agreed to let us leave early but with 2 months notice.

We handed notice in on 8th November meaning we pay rent until 7th January. I have started transferring internet etc across to the new property. And have let the electicty supplier, council tax and water board know we are leaving on Monday 9th December.

My question is- what is the cut off date for paying the bills? For electricity that’s easy, I will pay for our usage up until 9th December. But for water rates and council tax, should I still be paying for that until 7th January? As that’s when the tenancy officially ends, and is not based strictly on ‘usage’. Wanted to check my understanding of it all so I can rectify it quickly if need be!

Many thanks

G_M

Your tenancy ends, by agreement, on 7th Jan 2020. You are responsible for all bills till that date, unless you've agreed something different with the landlord.


If your electricy supplier makes a standing charge as well as usage charge, that is your responsibility till 7th Jan. And anyway, you'll have to leave the heating on low from 9th Dec to 7th Jan to protect against pipes freezing. Your tenancy agreement probably has a clause to this effect and/or prohibition against leaving the property unoccupied for more than x days.

Roxanna319

Unlikely to be a new tenant in there by that time as they’ve still not listed it. If there was, they would have waived the 2 months, but no issues there as we’re still happy to be allowed out early.

But what if they go into the property when we left, do lots of work to it and use lots of electricity. Are you saying I have to pay for their use of electricity until 7th jan?

Roxanna319

Oh, we are on oil heating, we agreed to leave the heating in low setting when we leave.

davidmcn

Roxanna319 wrote: »

But what if they go into the property when we left, do lots of work to it and use lots of electricity. Are you saying I have to pay for their use of electricity until 7th jan?

They're not entitled to go in, because you're still the occupier. If you want to make sure they don't, then don't hand the keys back until 7 January.

In general though, you're still the occupier, whether you're actually sleeping there or not, so you're paying the bills.

flashg67

Ref the council tax, I was a LL, and had a tenant leave on, lets say, 31st Dec, but actual official tenancy ended (and rent paid) until 31st Jan.
Tenant rented elsewhere straight away & started paying council tax on the new house from 1st Jan.
I proved this to my local council, but in the end, it was me, as the LL that had to pay (house was still empty)
They quoted some law that's been tested that a person can't pay council tax on two premises as their sole residence. So based on my experience, the LL will be paying council tax from when you move out, presuming you register your new address from the next day.

G_M

There's a difference in application of CT between

1) the end of a fixed term tenancy where tenant vacates early and
2) end of a periodic tenancy where tenant vacates early

With 1), tenant pays CT till the fixed term ends.
With 2) tenant pays CT till they vacate.

In this case I believe 1) would apply since there is a fixed term in existance, albeit it is being ended early by mutual agreement.


If CIS is around I'm sure he'll explain why....or correct me...

Roxanna319

Thanks all. I’m really glad I checked as hadn’t factored this in. I’ll get in touch with them all again and give new dates. I’ll also chat to LL/estate office about council tax.

I will be handing keys back on our completion day as it’s a long distance where we’re moving to. The property very nearly flooded recently, twice, so they will be keeping an eye on it. I imagine they will access the property to do some touching up/replace carpets etc (they were bad when we moved in, now worse with wear and tear) for viewings. So I will see if they will take on electricity from when we leave.