End of tenancy gas and elec bill

Amy32

We vacated a rented property earlier this year to purchase our own house. On leaving we had meter readings and submitted these to the gas and elec provider who ended our contract with them and we paid what we owed. We now have another account with them for our new house. 

I have today had contact from old landlord saying she has received a bill that we must pay. I said that we had paid but I would contact the provider to check. Having done this we have confirmed we have paid what we owed until the last day of our tenancy and I have sent this confirmation to the landlord. She has said it is incorrect and that the bill is ours as she hasn’t been in the property since (it is empty and being sold). She shared the bill with me and on looking at it it clearly says the balance is zero from the day we moved out and then the balance from that date until now. She is saying that we have to pay it as she hasn’t been in the property. She has said she will take it to small claims court which I have said to go ahead with as we have paid up until the end of our tenancy. 

Is there anything that I am missing? 

MaryNB

Did you vacate before the end of your notice period? If so, did she accept the keys as surrender of the tenancy? 

If it was the last date of your tenancy and she took back possession ignore her. Even if she isn't in the property she's liable for standing charges. She should have checked the property the day you vacated to make sure everything was switched off. 

Amy32

MaryNB said:

Did you vacate before the end of your notice period? If so, did she accept the keys as surrender of the tenancy? 

If it was the last date of your tenancy and she took back possession ignore her. Even if she isn't in the property she's liable for standing charges. She should have checked the property the day you vacated to make sure everything was switched off. 

We left 3 days before our tenancy ended but nonetheless we ensured we paid the provider until the day it ended so this kind of thing couldn’t come back on us. 

I even sent her the written documentation from the provider after they confirmed we hAve paid until the end and the balance was zero at that point but she does not believe it. 

MaryNB

Your liability ended the day your tenancy did. As long as you can show you paid for all usage up to this date it's fine.

Did that final payment include the closing balance? Sometimes there's a negative balance on the account if the account holders were underpaying and the supplier may not send a final bill until a few weeks after the account is closed 

ETA. Were the meter readings taken the day you left or did you pop back 3 days after you moved out to check them?

Amy32

MaryNB said:

Your liability ended the day your tenancy did. As long as you can show you paid for all usage up to this date it's fine.

Did that final payment include the closing balance? Sometimes there's a negative balance on the account if the account holders were underpaying and the supplier may not send a final bill until a few weeks after the account is closed 

Yes we paid extra for the closing balance to cover what our direct debit didn’t. I have confirmed with the provider today that we have paid up until the last day of our tenancy. 

It’s just a bit unnerving when someone says they are seeking legal advice. 

missile

I guess you may have left the heating, hot water and freezer etc switched on? 
It is your LL's responsibility to check and switch off if she wanted.

Marvel1

Amy32 said:

MaryNB said:

Did you vacate before the end of your notice period? If so, did she accept the keys as surrender of the tenancy? 

If it was the last date of your tenancy and she took back possession ignore her. Even if she isn't in the property she's liable for standing charges. She should have checked the property the day you vacated to make sure everything was switched off. 

We left 3 days before our tenancy ended but nonetheless we ensured we paid the provider until the day it ended so this kind of thing couldn’t come back on us. 

I even sent her the written documentation from the provider after they confirmed we hAve paid until the end and the balance was zero at that point but she does not believe it. 

In that case, your landlord is stupid.
Ignore them, keeping evidence etc if they file for small claims.

MaryNB

Amy32 said:

MaryNB said:

Your liability ended the day your tenancy did. As long as you can show you paid for all usage up to this date it's fine.

Did that final payment include the closing balance? Sometimes there's a negative balance on the account if the account holders were underpaying and the supplier may not send a final bill until a few weeks after the account is closed 

Yes we paid extra for the closing balance to cover what our direct debit didn’t. I have confirmed with the provider today that we have paid up until the last day of our tenancy. 

It’s just a bit unnerving when someone says they are seeking legal advice. 

Sounds like you did everything properly. Since you have the statements from the utility provider you've covered your own back. She's sounds like a moron. She's deluded if she thinks you are liable for anything between the end of your tenancy and her selling the house. She's just wasting her own time and money on small claims. Utility liability is straightforward. 

missile

Does she still have your deposit?

Amy32

missile said:

Does she still have your deposit?

No. This was another contentious issue though as she tried to keep some of it but the letting agent who obviously acts on her behalf told her she wouldn’t be able to claim any of it as we had left it in a better condition than we took it on! 

youth_leader

My daughter advised me to take a 'time stamped' photo when I left my rental, do you have any photos of your meters?