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Water bill

Hi all

i live in a room in a house, there are 9 rooms in total and from the outside the building looks like a house, the property doesn’t have a water meter

up until the last month the water bill for my room was in the landlords name, but I think because I complained about the landlord as I’m living with junkies who sleep all day then make excessive noise at night he has told the water company my details

i have contacted the water company and told them its landlord as there is a communal washing machine and outside tap but they said I am responsible and the landlord gave my details

all the other rooms are still in the landlords name apart from mine ! All the water pipes are interconnected room to room so if next door is in the shower etc it affects my water flow 

I was placed here out of no wish to myself I was told if I don’t take this property I’ll be making myself homeless

i suffer with MH and am on the waiting list for an asd 

I won’t pay the bill for 2 reasons all the other rooms are still in the landlords name and I don’t use much water for the price of the bill

my question does the matter go to court before bailiffs as i would rather explain my situation to judge 

thanks
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Comments

  • HampshireH
    HampshireH Posts: 4,757 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    What does your license say as to utilities
  • sammyjammy
    sammyjammy Posts: 7,793 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Do you all have individual tenancy agreements?  Does landlord have an HMO licence?  Share kitchen?  Shared bathrooms?
    "You've been reading SOS when it's just your clock reading 5:05 "
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,480 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Can someone sign you up for paying something without your permission?  It's a bit like being given credit without signing any credit agreement.  

    But yes - what does your tenancy agreement say?  If you were put there I'm guessing this was something done by the local council.  You might try talking to them as well if you don't have a copy of your tenancy agreement.  

    And don't panic.  In my experience the water companies are the easiest ones to deal with and have the most understanding of the situations people are in.  Talking to citizen's advice might help you resolve this.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • Kolakuble2021
    Kolakuble2021 Posts: 49 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts
    edited 6 July 2024 pm31 1:25PM
    Thanks for the replies, tenancy says £xxx per month excluding bills, but tenancy also goes on to say to keep shared kitchen clean & tidy, we don’t have a shared kitchen so I think the landlord has many properties and is a generic tenancy, however the electric is paid for by landlord as we haven’t individual meters there are 3 consumer boards in the cupboard distributed to each room

    my tenancy was originally for 6 months which ended in May 2022 when I asked for a new tenancy they said I’m on a rolling contract

    no idea if he has a hmo licence how can I find out will that help me ? 

    I’m not too worried about the bill if they take me to court as I will show them the same water company letters to other rooms in the landlords name plus if the bailiffs come I don’t own anything of value, they can take my car which they might get £200 for at auction

    each room has its own bathroom and kitchen, 4 rooms out of the 9 has its own washing machine (mine included but it’s broken when I told the landlord he said the room comes unfurnished) so I use the communal washing machine


  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,480 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    No one is going to take you to court for a water bill.  And no bailiffs are going to show up.

    Should the bill have to be paid I would first ask the water company for proof of you signing up with them.  If that gets you no where I would ask to have a meter installed.  If there is no way for them to distinguish between the water you use and what everyone else uses then you should be given an assumed use rate, an amount typical for 1 individual living in a small room with a private bathroom.  They should not be charging you for the standard rate for a house that doesn't have a meter.  

    Seriously consider talking to Citizen's Advice or a local debt advice charity.  I know that CMA (Community Money Advice) have agents often located in food banks and are happy to discuss problems with 1 bill if that's the only concern someone has. 
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • Kolakuble2021
    Kolakuble2021 Posts: 49 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts
    edited 6 July 2024 pm31 5:07PM
    Thank you Brie I will talk to CA 

    Thank you all for the replies much appreciated
  • Kolakuble2021
    Kolakuble2021 Posts: 49 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts
    edited 7 July 2024 pm31 1:35PM
    Sorry just another quick question, can my landlord give my details to the water company or does it fall under GDPR
  • GingerTim
    GingerTim Posts: 2,305 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Sorry just another quick question, can my landlord give my details to the water company or does it fall under GDPR
    There's no GDPR issue in your landlord passing on your details.
  • Just seen the hmo licence taped to the wall downstairs, the licence was issued in 2016 for 5 years so that one has expired, it proves this is a hmo if that makes any difference
  • I am being hounded by the water company calling numerous times a day I have to keep blocking their numbers 

    I looked on the water companies website and it says if you live in a hmo it is the responsibility of the landlord

    the licence on the wall downstairs was from 2016 til 2021 I contacted the council and they told me they have received a licence renewal and it is being processed but couldn’t tell me how long it takes

    only since I complained about the landlord has he passed my details to the water company as the other tenants aren’t receiving bills in their name !

    It’s making my mh worse all this stress
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