Lodger not paying bills before departure

cheerypie12

Some very helpful posts here. Thanks. 

[Deleted User]

Your best bet at this stage is to focus on the portion of the utility bills that she owes. People can understand when they use a share.

But the council tax, that's just confusing and ridiculous. Don't go there.

You took a deposit to cover damage. How much? Tell us about the damage. If you are talking about deductions for delapidations to your 10 year old carpet, think again.

cheerypie12

No, the damage isn't wear and tear. 

Won't be posting again. 

Thanks for all your time.

saajan_12

Not sure why everyone needs to push their idea of a contract which is not the one OP agreed. Bills being included in rent might have a bearing on tax and rent-a-room scheme, but it isn't a must.
The incremental bills vs standing costs for broadband / utilities / CT is irrelevant if that's not what OP and lodger mutually agreed. Contractually OP would have a right to what was agreed, and may have made subsequent financial decisions based on an agreed % split, not just charging for additional costs (eg choosing a faster broadband). 

OP, there's two steps
1) Contractually, you would have a right to damages beyond fair wear & tear and lodger's share of bills you can prove they agreed to. The council tax is tricky, if you can prove they agreed to present their student id and failed to do so, your loss is the extra 25%. However if they didn't agree and just did this to help the first year, it would be your tax. 

2) Practically, to recover the above, you'd have to send a letter before action, then file a small claim, then prove your case, then get a CCJ, then actually collect on it (what if they're not working / AWOL). The intial costs are low, but they build up for recovery and your chances are extremely low if you don't know a forwarding address or if they're overseas. 

So thinking backwards, it might be better to try a letter before action, but then not bother with the rest as you'll spend more before likely getting nothing back.