tenants that leave with unpaid utility bills

Lynney123

My ex tenant left my property all rent paid ,,, but... he never gave me a forwarding address ... how do the utility companies trace him ,, I'm sure they don't write these bills off ... bills are in his name ,,edf and water utilities ,, thank you for any information . when i rang they said they have his email , phone number ect ,, but he's mail still comes to my property.. 

BikingBud

DD will still work?

tripled

Depends on the level of the debt, they may write it off, or they may pass it on to a debt collector to try and trace them or even go to court for a CCJ. All you can do is keep sending the letters back return to sender, and make sure all the utilities are aware your ex-tenant has moved out and have closed his accounts.

tastyhog

Not your problem, return mail to sender or bin it, as long as you've setup new accounts with your own readings from when you took possession of the property then you're not liable for anything else prior, and it's up to the energy company or any other creditor to trace the person.

Scot_39

Generally not your problem - providing you and tennants have played fair and followed rules.

But different suppliers according to some Google search articles might take a dimmer view of landlords not also notifying them of tenancy transitions or missing clauses in tenancy agreements specifying responsibility etc.


Sadly there are a minority who will play fast and loose and then scamper.  Just like there are those who dont look after a property as you might have hoped etc. - but at least i think any major damage insurable should a landlord choose to do so.
Its part of the risk landlords need to manage.

Think not just power (which tenants may have swapped supplier without needing landlords permission) but water, council tax, landline phone / broadband  etc