Changing energy company confusion

Apk16r

I’m a landlord looking for a bit of help and advice. My previous tenants had a Scottish Power account which I changed to Octopus Energy in the interim prior to my new tenant.  As I was settling my bill I t transpires that, though signed up for dual fuel, Octopus were only providing electricity. The same has been the case for the new tenant. It seems that my previous tenant has continued to be charged for gas supply on a property she’s not been in for the past 8 weeks though she had informed SP of her moving date and them cancelling her electricity supply.... Are you with me so far? 

Now I can’t talk to SP because I have no account with them but I will owe something to them for the month the property was empty; my new tenant will also owe for the gas she’s used but she has no account with SP either and meanwhile the previous tenant can’t get any sense out of them either. This is a nightmare where we keep going round in circles. Help!! 

I changed provider because I’ve had difficulty at hand over with Scottish Power before but now this is serious. Any advice on how I get things straight again would be very much appreciated. Thank you. 

rp1974

Did your previous tenant specifically cancel their gas supply or not?.
If they didn't then they are responsible for for that,not you,not your new tenant.

As I understand it the previous tenant must deal directly with Scottish Power,not anybody else other than them.
New tenant must also contact Scottish Power to set up an account in their name,then switch as desired.

Assuming that among you there's meter readings from when the former tenant left,when the new tenant arrived,the difference between the two being yours to pay for.

Always,always get tenants to take final readings if you can't be there in person,pictures of meters can be helpful should disagreements or issues arise at some point in the future.

Apk16r

Yes all of that was done correctly at the time of handover so the situation shouldn’t have arisen if Scottish Power had transferred the account into my name. My ex tenants should also have kept a closer eye on their bank account and challenged it sooner but, as she’s about to have a baby, I suspect it wasn’t high on their list of priorities. The issue is that my new tenant can’t pay for the gas she’s using and I can’t settle for the interim period. Do my new tenant and I now have to wait until SP action something? 

rp1974

Uncertain if you can transfer over an energy account like that or if it must be closed by the named account holder only,then re-opened by a new account holder.
No it shouldn't happen,but it has,whatever the former tenant did or didn't do is their problem,not yours.I suspect it'll rise a little higher in their priorities when Scottish Power want paid though.
Provided you keep the meter readings for future reference when Scottish Power sort out whatever they need to sort out and you and the new tenant keep funds for payment,I dont see what else you can do.
Try contacting Citizens Advice who will be able to offer some guidance as to what needs done next.

Apk16r

Many thanks for taking the time to respond.