Renting for a year and received reminder for water bill/account

n0499049

Me an my partner have been renting a 2 bed terraced for nearly a year now and recently received a letter from Seven Trent Waters about a water account. Prior to renting we lived with parents and have never owned/rented a property before so this is all relatively new to us.

We got the letter only a few days ago saying that they were aware that the property wasn't being occupied and they were still supplying water to the property. They went onto say that an account would need to be setup with them to continue supply of water and if nothing was received they would disconnect to services.

Where do we stand in all of this? Should we be creating an account with them and if we do are we saying that we moved in on rent a year ago? Are we liable to pay a backdated water bill if we mention we have been living there for a year already.

I mean can we dodge this at all? Is this something we need to pay? We're buying our own house and the tenancy come to and end towards the end of April this year.

We're just unsure as to how we're meant to proceed?

Any guidance / advice would be greatly appreciated.

davidmcn

n0499049 wrote: »

Should we be creating an account with them

Yes

and if we do are we saying that we moved in on rent a year ago?

They won't care whether or not you're renting, just when you moved in.

Are we liable to pay a backdated water bill if we mention we have been living there for a year already.

Yes, that's right.

need_an_answer

You presumably have a tenancy agreement that states the date you moved in and should have taken responsibility for what is a utility bill.

You need to register an account and give the correct dates of occupation so that you can be billed.if you don't the water company could disconnect the water supply or revert back to the owner of the property for the dates that they were responsible for the water supply before you moved in.

your LL is also likely to have a copy of your tenancy move in date so it wont be difficult to prove when you took over the service

Please also ensure you are registered for council tax and energy supply as thease are likely to be your responsibility also whilst renting the property.

n0499049

Thanks for this - was really unsure whether or not it was something we actually needed to do on our behalf.

PasturesNew

How it is supposed to work when you move in. Day 1:
1/ Work out who the water supplier/s is/are. Some areas you get two bills as one does water and one does sewerage.
2/ Contact them to say "hey, we've moved into this address" and set up an account.
3/ Meter readings - you might need to take this, or, if it's a fairly new build they might even just do it remotely. If it's an older house you'd be plodding about outside looking for a small metal cover in the drive, which you pull up and see a lump of polystyrene below, which you pull out and should be able to see a meter face that you can read.
4/ You pay the bills as they arrive.
5/ When you leave, take a meter reading and phone them to say "hey we're moving out".

So, yes, you do need to set up an account with them and say "we've been here a year". ... and pay for what you've had over that year.

I'm not sure where you thought the water was magically appearing from without the above process being worked out well before now

AlexMac

But the good news is that if you ask nicely, they'll probably let you pay it off in installments, with the monthly Direct Debit for future supply;
good luck negotiating

You are paying your Council Tax aren't you...?

Silvertabby

AlexMac wrote: »

But the good news is that if you ask nicely, they'll probably let you pay it off in installments, with the monthly Direct Debit for future supply;
good luck negotiating

You are paying your Council Tax aren't you...?

... and gas and electric bills ?

G_M

Have you been using water? Taking the odd bath or shower? Of course you need to pay!

diggingdude

n0499049 wrote: »

Me an my partner have been renting a 2 bed terraced for nearly a year now and recently received a letter from Seven Trent Waters about a water account. Prior to renting we lived with parents and have never owned/rented a property before so this is all relatively new to us.

We got the letter only a few days ago saying that they were aware that the property wasn't being occupied and they were still supplying water to the property. They went onto say that an account would need to be setup with them to continue supply of water and if nothing was received they would disconnect to services.

Where do we stand in all of this? Should we be creating an account with them and if we do are we saying that we moved in on rent a year ago? Are we liable to pay a backdated water bill if we mention we have been living there for a year already.

I mean can we dodge this at all? Is this something we need to pay? We're buying our own house and the tenancy come to and end towards the end of April this year.

We're just unsure as to how we're meant to proceed?

Any guidance / advice would be greatly appreciated.

To think you were planning on being a landlord.....:eek::eek: Yes you have to pay your bills

jackomdj

The reason you wouldn't need to pay is if your agreement stated it was inclusive of utility bills, which I doubt it would.

As others have asked have you remembered to pay for
Council tax
Gas
Electricity
Contents insurance
Tv licence

Marvel1

PasturesNew wrote: »

How it is supposed to work when you move in. Day 1:
1/ Work out who the water supplier/s is/are. Some areas you get two bills as one does water and one does sewerage.
2/ Contact them to say "hey, we've moved into this address" and set up an account.
3/ Meter readings - you might need to take this, or, if it's a fairly new build they might even just do it remotely. If it's an older house you'd be plodding about outside looking for a small metal cover in the drive, which you pull up and see a lump of polystyrene below, which you pull out and should be able to see a meter face that you can read.
4/ You pay the bills as they arrive.
5/ When you leave, take a meter reading and phone them to say "hey we're moving out".

So, yes, you do need to set up an account with them and say "we've been here a year". ... and pay for what you've had over that year.

I'm not sure where you thought the water was magically appearing from without the above process being worked out well before now

If no water meter, then nothing to read, even though might is put into point 3, just noting as OP didn't know anything from the start.