Can landlord use housemate's deposit to retrieve unpaid electric bill contributions (England)?

catsprout

Renting in a house share with separate ASTs, 4 bedrooms, landlord nominated me to be in charge of electricity as I've lived there longest. Just my name is on the bill. One of my housemates lost his job and gave notice. He owes me 3 months of electricity. The landlord has said he can get this from my housemate's deposit. I believe his deposit is protected in one of the government schemes. So is my landlord right or would I need to chase my housemate/potentially go to Small Claims? I'd like to avoid the bother of chasing the guy, but my gut tells me that the scheme is not going to care about money that isn't actually owed to the landlord...

FrugaiMacDugal

As your name is on the bill you will be liable for the account.

Who pays the account, do you collect the money and pay it, or collect the money and pass to landlord to pay?

catsprout

I pay it. Would passing to the landlord be a better idea?

Boohoo

catsprout said:

I pay it. Would passing to the landlord be a better idea?

Your landlord is not stupid is he/she?

You are now responsible for the electric bills until you get a new person to take over the account .

Brie

Is there something in writing about you being responsible for the whole bill?  Other than it's in your name.  I'd be looking for a way to pass the ball back to the landlord.

elsien

Boohoo said:

catsprout said:

I pay it. Would passing to the landlord be a better idea?

Your landlord is not stupid is he/she?

You are now responsible for the electric bills until you get a new person to take over the account .

Or the tenancy is ended. All the OP needs to do is when they leave is to send thecompany final reading and say they are no longer responsible. 

FrugaiMacDugal

catsprout said:

Renting in a house share with separate ASTs, 4 bedrooms, landlord nominated me to be in charge of electricity as I've lived there longest. Just my name is on the bill. One of my housemates lost his job and gave notice. He owes me 3 months of electricity. The landlord has said he can get this from my housemate's deposit. I believe his deposit is protected in one of the government schemes. So is my landlord right or would I need to chase my housemate/potentially go to Small Claims? I'd like to avoid the bother of chasing the guy, but my gut tells me that the scheme is not going to care about money that isn't actually owed to the landlord...

If you pay it you'll be out 3 months electric from previous renter.

I'd be tempted to take the money from the deposit from the landlord, and let landlord and previous renter sort out deposit.

As said above get your name off the account, if somebody does a runner your the loser.

catsprout

FrugaiMacDugal said:

catsprout said:

Renting in a house share with separate ASTs, 4 bedrooms, landlord nominated me to be in charge of electricity as I've lived there longest. Just my name is on the bill. One of my housemates lost his job and gave notice. He owes me 3 months of electricity. The landlord has said he can get this from my housemate's deposit. I believe his deposit is protected in one of the government schemes. So is my landlord right or would I need to chase my housemate/potentially go to Small Claims? I'd like to avoid the bother of chasing the guy, but my gut tells me that the scheme is not going to care about money that isn't actually owed to the landlord...

If you pay it you'll be out 3 months electric from previous renter.

I'd be tempted to take the money from the deposit from the landlord, and let landlord and previous renter sort out deposit.

As said above get your name off the accoumt, if somebody does a runner your the loser.

elsien said:

Boohoo said:

catsprout said:

I pay it. Would passing to the landlord be a better idea?

Your landlord is not stupid is he/she?

You are now responsible for the electric bills until you get a new person to take over the account .

Or the tenancy is ended. All the OP needs to do is when they leave is to send thecompany final reading and say they are no longer responsible. 

elsien said:

Boohoo said:

catsprout said:

I pay it. Would passing to the landlord be a better idea?

Your landlord is not stupid is he/she?

You are now responsible for the electric bills until you get a new person to take over the account .

Or the tenancy is ended. All the OP needs to do is when they leave is to send thecompany final reading and say they are no longer responsible. 

I'm quite happy in the house other than the recent bill issue, so I'd rather not end the tenancy

anselld

To answer the original question, yes the L can propose a deduction and if the T agrees it will be paid without question.  If the T does not agree and it goes to dispute then it could go either way.

Uriziel

I don't understand why you would agree to be the one paying the bill and then deal with the people yourself..? Do you pick the people? So it is up to the landlord to pick them and you have to trust they will pay you?
The landlord should be paying the bill and simply include it in the rent. It is absurd to have a house share and expect the sharers to somehow split the bill.

catsprout

Uriziel said:

I don't understand why you would agree to be the one paying the bill and then deal with the people yourself..? Do you pick the people? So it is up to the landlord to pick them and you have to trust they will pay you?
The landlord should be paying the bill and simply include it in the rent. It is absurd to have a house share and expect the sharers to somehow split the bill.

The landlord picks the people. It is a bit of an unusual arrangement as far as I understand.