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House Completion Due By End of July, Buyer's Solicitor Asking for a Recent Water Bill I Don't Have

Hi,

I've been renting a property out for the last ten years.  It's been empty for 10 months as two previous sales have fallen through.

We are due to complete end of July.  However the buyer's solicitor are requesting a recent copy of the water bill  I don't have.  The letting agent hasn't seen anything come through. 

What does it mean?  And how do I find a way to respond to them?

TIA

My solicitor sent this

The buyer’s solicitor have however requested an up to date water bill because their search results does not reveal the basis of the charge for the property. Do you have a recent water bill to provide?

Comments

  • Mercurial
    Mercurial Posts: 218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Just received a response from the water company.  They don't issue 
     bills for vacant properties.    Surely they should know this already?!
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 18,887 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Well, have you ever had a bill from them? Sounds like they want to confirm what tariff it's on?
  • Tiglet2
    Tiglet2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 14 July 2022 at 4:53PM
    Have you got any water bills at all, even if they are from a long time ago? 

    The buyer's solicitor just wants to confirm that the property is connected to the mains network, rather than a private water supply, i.e. one not supplied by a water company.  
  • Mercurial
    Mercurial Posts: 218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    User1977 no the property has always been rented out so no bills in my name

    canaldumidi 😆  I've just a very similar response to my solicitor. 

    Tiglet2 I've forwarded the response from Severn Trent advising they don't issue bills for vacant properties.  Hopefully that should work.



  • Mercurial
    Mercurial Posts: 218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    User1977 no the property has always been rented out so no bills in my name

    canaldumidi 😆  I've just a very similar response to my solicitor. 

    Tiglet2 I've forwarded the response from Severn Trent advising they don't issue bills for vacant properties.  Hopefully that should work.



  • Tiglet2
    Tiglet2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Mercurial said:
    User1977 no the property has always been rented out so no bills in my name

    canaldumidi 😆  I've just a very similar response to my solicitor. 

    Tiglet2 I've forwarded the response from Severn Trent advising they don't issue bills for vacant properties.  Hopefully that should work.




    There might not be bills in your name, but presumably the tenants had bills in their name at the property address.  If you are not able to obtain a copy bill from the recent tenants, just state that the tenants paid the utility bills and you therefore cannot supply a copy of the same.

    The property is, however, yours so you surely can at least confirm whether or not the water is connected to the mains water supply.  Or could the water company write you a letter to confirm that the property address is one they supply water for?  Don't you have paperwork from when you bought the property which would confirm this?
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 26,719 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper


    If it’s a suburban property, and water comes out of the taps, it’s obviously connected to the main water supply. There’s only one possible supplier to most addresses.

    Even if it’s not metered, is a new owner allowed to continue with that arrangement?
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • kingstreet
    kingstreet Posts: 39,375 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Dear Mr Solicitor,
    Ref your request of (date) for a recent water bill, the property has been vacant for a while and was previously let with the tenant being responsible for utility payments.
    Yours sincerely,

    I am a mortgage broker. You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice. Please do not send PMs asking for one-to-one-advice, or representation.
  • MaryNB
    MaryNB Posts: 2,319 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Mercurial said:
    User1977 no the property has always been rented out so no bills in my name

    canaldumidi 😆  I've just a very similar response to my solicitor. 

    Tiglet2 I've forwarded the response from Severn Trent advising they don't issue bills for vacant properties.  Hopefully that should work.



    Is there not a standing charge that has been due for the last 10 months?
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