Can Landlord Refuse to Provide Information about Service Included in the Bills?

Kalap_26

I moved into a flat last year and the landlord has sold the property to a new landlord. I don't know who this landlord is as I am only allowed to speak with the agency. I'm aware that under Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 I have the rights to know my landlord's information. However, they are still refusing to give me any details.

Couple of months ago, my internet stopped working and the agency hasn't done much about it. All bills are included in my rent, so I have been paying for this internet too. I asked them to provide me details of the broadband, so I can directly speak with the service providers. However, the agency is refusing to provide any details about them. I believe that I have the rights to know what my internet plan is and what I am paying for. But the agency is telling me that it's up to the landlord to share or hide the information. They claim that the landlord has decided not to share the plan that I am paying for. 

Can someone please tell me if the landlord can actually do this? What section or tenancy act does this come under?

princeofpounds

https://www.duttongregory.co.uk/site/blog/duttongregorynews/the-importance-of-a-landlords-address

If they are not disclosing your landlord's name and an address, this is a (minor) criminal offence. You can report this, usually to the council, and whilst they may not be that active in your support (there are ways to encourage this if you want them to prosecute), you will probably get a warning letter from them to the agent. 

As for the broadband - there is a contract between you and the landlord for the provision of broadband. If it is not being provided, and you have made written requests for repair and more information, and simply received no reply over a reasonable period of time, then you should just stop paying for it and - eventually - install your own broadband.

Are your electricity, gas and/or water bills also going through the landlord, out of interest?

theartfullodger

Unless you receive notification of who the new owner is by s48 & s3 notice(s), then 
- no rent due (s48)
- new owner may be liable for fines and criminal record. (s3) - ah, bless....

Point this out to your esteemed agent (unless you'd prefer not to pay the rent) - send them the link below...

see...
https://england.shelter.org.uk/legal/security_of_tenure/basic_principles_security_of_tenure/Information_about_a_landlords_identity#3

####  

Requirements when change of landlord

If there is a change of landlord, the new landlord must provide the tenant with her/his name and address in writing:[8]

• within two months after the transfer of interest in the property, or
• no later then the next day that rent is payable, where this is more than two months after the transfer.

If this is not complied with, the old landlord will remain liable for any breach of the tenancy agreement until either they or the new landlord provides the tenant with the new landlord's name and address.

If the new landlord does not comply they can also be prosecuted by the local authority and a fine of up to £2,500 can be imposed in the magistrates court.[9] ####

NB For s48 just AN address in England or wales is OK, but for s3 it must be landlord's ACTUAL address, wherever in the world. 

'sfunny yet another agent who doesn't understand the law.. 

Alternatively simply spend £3 with land registry & see who is listed as owner & at what address - see
https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

All online takes 10 minutes (well, less...)

Artful: Wicked evil landlord

moneysavinghero

Under section 3 of the L&T Act the new Landlord HAS to notify you in writing that they are your new LL. If they have not done this then they have commitied a criminal offence and could face a fine of upto £2,500. Inform the EA of this and ask if they still want to withhold the LL details from you or would they prefer you report his breach of the law.

Kalap_26

princeofpounds said:

Are your electricity, gas and/or water bills also going through the landlord, out of interest?

Thanks a lot for your response. Yes, all the bills including electricity, gas and water are included in my rent. 

princeofpounds

Kalap_26 said:

princeofpounds said:

Are your electricity, gas and/or water bills also going through the landlord, out of interest?

Thanks a lot for your response. Yes, all the bills including electricity, gas and water are included in my rent. 

No problem. Artful is right too about rent not being due, the change of LL etc.

Kalap_26

theartfullodger said:

Unless you receive notification of who the new owner is by s48 & s3 notice(s), then 
- no rent due (s48)
- new owner may be liable for fines and criminal record. (s3) - ah, bless....

Thank you very much for this. This is extremly helpful.

Is there anything mentioned about bills or services included in the bills too?

I told them that I have the rights to know what I am paying for, but the agency replied me by saying, "I’m afraid you do not need to know the exact details of the broadband".

It's the same for water, electricity and everything. They don't want to provide the information about what company or package is included in the rent.

user1977

Kalap_26 said:

theartfullodger said:

Unless you receive notification of who the new owner is by s48 & s3 notice(s), then 
- no rent due (s48)
- new owner may be liable for fines and criminal record. (s3) - ah, bless....

I told them that I have the rights to know what I am paying for, but the agency replied me by saying, "I’m afraid you do not need to know the exact details of the broadband".

It's the same for water, electricity and everything. They don't want to provide the information about what company or package is included in the rent.

All the landlord is required to do is procure that the services are provided - the details of which suppliers they use etc needn't concern you. And the suppliers aren't going to talk to you anyway, as you're not their customer.

Kalap_26

user1977 said:

The suppliers aren't going to talk to you anyway, as you're not their customer.

This is what confuses me as I am the one using the product and I am paying for it in my rent, so shouldn't I be a customer too?

I understand that it is registered under the landlord's name, but again am I not a paying customer?

elsien

No. The utilities contracts are with the landlord. He or she is the customer, not you. 

Your contract with the landlord includes the utilities which are included in the rent. As you accepted the rent with bills as being reasonable when you agreed to it, how it’s made up is the landlord’s business not yours. 

Kalap_26

elsien said:

As you accepted the rent with bills as being reasonable when you agreed to it, how it’s made up is the landlord’s business not yours. 

Thanks! This definitely makes sense.

My only problem is that the new landlord has changed the package, so this is not what I initially agreed to. I am not sure what broadband I am even paying for.