Bought a house that was empty - unpaid utility bills

Goldust

Hi,


I have just bought a house and it had a huge amount of unopened mail. The reason is that I bought it off a property developer who had acquired the property via part exchange for one of it's new houses.


The house had remained empty for around 7 months during which they tried to sell and and eventually I bought it.


I've found bills addressed to "the occupier" that have mounted up over the months due to standing charges and estimated usage. Pretty much nothing has been used (I compared the readings I took initially to the final non estimated reading on the earliest bill). However it has still mounted up and there is also a letter saying they have passed the debt to a debt collection agency and an actual letter from said agency from October.


My understanding is that I should refer the utility company to the property developers for any usage incurred before I completed the purchase. However I am worried that the debt collection agency (who are chasing an inflated debt anyway) may make attempts to recover the debt by getting into the house or harassing my wife as I work away for weeks on end.


Obviously I'll call them on Monday when they are open but do I need to do anything about the debt collectors? What should I do? Apologies - I suffer from anxiety at the best of times and it's not ideal coming into a new home.

davidmcn

You don't need to do anything about the previous owners' bills. They're not your responsibility. You just tell the utility companies that you've moved in and give them current meter readings. Return mail addressed to previous owners/occupiers marked as "gone away".

00ec25

Goldust wrote: »

What should I do? Apologies - I suffer from anxiety at the best of times and it's not ideal coming into a new home.

take whatever medication you are on

sit down with your wife and plan with her what she can do if someone knocks on the door (why do you think she is unable to cope herself? Perhaps she is better suited to dealing with this than you are?)

perhaps keep a copy of your property purchase contract by the door so she can easily show the date you purchased the property to any debt collector that she (or you) open the door to

having shown them your liability commenced from that date, tell them not to contact you ever again, and that they should contact the ex owner.
As that is (i assume) a development company, rather than a personal owner, you are not bound by data protection, so can give the debt collector the company name (and address) if you are so inclined.

you have done everything else that need already, ie you have a reading for when you assume responsibility (did you take a photo of the reading?)

zagubov

Have you anything in writing say a letter from your solicitors or from the Land Registry or even a printout of rightmove house prices to show you're the new owner?

Make and keep multiple photocopies by your door for any bailiffs to take away.

Edit: Cross-posted with 00ec25 who said all this better and more thoroughly!

Goldust

Thanks all - sadly it is a bit of a bind with the anxiety... I certainly don't want to buy another house again!


I've spoken to the wife and she's comfortable with it all. So the debt collector letter sent to the house should just get sent back to them? Or should I ring them and tell them? I threw away all the envelopes there were so many!


I mean I could ask the utility provider to contact them but as they've sold the debt now it doesn't really seem worthwhile.


Quite happy to drop the name of the developer into these conversations as they have given us nothing but hassle, delays and messing round throughout the process anyway

D_M_E

You must contact the currenty suppliers of gas, electricity and water and tell them you are responsible for paying the energy/water bills as from XX date when you completed on your purchase.

Give them actual meter readings - you DID read the meters, yes, on that date, and also preferably photographed them as well - and ask for an account from that day forward in your name.

Anything used previuos to that date is the responsibility of the developer or whoever owned the property and sold it to you and this includes any standing charges outstanding.

You are now free to switch your gas and electric should you desire - water you cannot switch, you are stuck with whoever suplies the local area.

Don't forget to also tell the local council about your occupancy and wait for a council tax bill from them.

http://www.mycounciltax.org.uk/ will give you an idea of how much the council will want for the current year - divide the figure by 365 then multiply by the number of days left from your purchase date until April 5th and the result will be within a few quid of what they will want for the current year, which y6ou will probably have to pay in one lump.

davidmcn

00ec25 wrote: »

As that is (i assume) a development company, rather than a personal owner, you are not bound by data protection

The OP wouldn't be bound by data protection anyway - that doesn't apply in your personal affairs. Registered proprietors are a matter of public record anyway.

G_M

1) read meters on day you take ownership
2) contact gas/electric/water etc suppliers and give them a) your details b) the meter readings and c) requst to open an account in your name
3) photocopy your R Title proving date you took ownership, and keep next to door
4) return all post/bills to previous owners, or 'the occupier' relating to period prior to your ownership, "return to sender- not known".
5) if bailiffs etc turn up, do not let themin.Show them your ownership docs and deny all responsibility for bills prior to this date.

m0bov

You could even leave copies of your paperwork in plastic sleeves and hide them behind a plant pot. When the baliff comes just tell them out a window where they are. Dont open the door, they will push in and start searching the place. Keep the door closed.

Goldust

Surely they are outside of the law if they barge their way past a pregnant woman into her house?


I am thinking I should ring the debt collection agency and quote their reference and give them the details of the property developer. Or ask the energy supplier to handle it. Or is talking to those type of people at all a bad idea?

eddddy

Goldust wrote: »

I am thinking I should ring the debt collection agency and quote their reference and give them the details of the property developer.

Calling the debt collection agency probably won't make much difference.

Many people who owe money will phone debt collection agencies (or get friends to phone debt collection agencies) to lie and say that the debtor has moved away.

The only people who the debt collection agency will listen to is the energy supplier. So when you open an account with the energy supplier, you can mention your concerns about the debt collection agency.