Bailiffs chasing old tenant - moral dilemma

ncooper1974

A tenant moved out of my rented property approx 6 months ago. Before I returned his deposit, I ensured that all outstanding bills (elec, council tax, Bt, etc) were settled.
The other day, the current tenant informs me that he had a visit from the bailiffs about an unpaid council tax demand, and was presented with a Removal Notice. It turns out that although the old tenant had settled all his bills on my property, he actually had unpaid bills from one of his properties.
I've informed the council, and bailiffs, about the tenant moving on and they are happy to acknowledge that my current tenant will not be liable. But they have asked me for the contact details of my old tenant.
Im sure that I have at the very least his mobile number as this would be on his original tenancy agreement. Question is, should I oblidge and forward these details onto the debt recovery firm? Or just say that I dont have any contact details?
Has anyone else been in the same situation? Am I legally obliged to help?

real1314

I don't think you are obliged to provide details, but why not do it anyway? Not paying council tax or other debts pushes up the costs for everyone. And increases the hassle for your current tenants.

pinkshoes

Personally I would just give them the details. The money and time the council spent chasing him will no doubt be paid by other council tax payers, thus making council tax even higher!

mlz1413

I bought a house that had been rented and the last tenants owed everybody, I wish I had forwarding details to give the debt collectors. As they had no morals why should I worry about them.

bryanb

I'd agree that it would be morally OK to give phone No, but does the Data Protection Act have any relevence?

nollag2006

Can't see what your dilemma is - if the old tenant didn't know they had bills outstanding then they will want to resolve this matter quickly to ensure that their credit record is repaired, if it was intentional then you have an obligation to help bring an evader to justice. Otherwise, you are just allowing them to sponge off us honest taxpayers

JonnyBravo

I'm with the everyone else so far.

No moral dilemma at all.

Give them any details you have.

This isn't the playground. Let them face their responsibilities.

If the police were asking you presumably you'd tell them? Or would you be even less likely to tell the old bill?

ncooper1974

Thanks to all for your comments - much appreciated.
My gut reaction was to tell, but thought i'd run it by your guys 1st to get more than 1 opinion. Seems like we all agree.

I shall be emailing the council tomorrow with the tenants mobile number, and then look forward to possibly receiving a call from him about why I gave them his details

tbs624

AFAIAA the Data Protection Act allows the sharing of personal information under “Schedule 2 conditions”:
1. the subject has given consent to share information; or
2. sharing information is necessary:

• to protect the person’s vital interests, or

• to comply with a court order, or

• to fulfil a legal duty, or

• to perform a statutory function, or

• to perform a public function in the public interest, or

• for the legitimate interests of the data controller, or of the third party or parties to whom the data is disclosed,

unless the rights or interests of the data subject preclude sharing.


It's in the legitimate interests of the data controller,ie the LL, not to have bailiffs knocking on his new tenants' doors :-)

PasturesNew

If I were the tenant I'd want my details to be passed on.
It's easy to get lost when you move on.

I sold a house last year and thought I'd settled all bills. About 4 months later I got a final electricity bill from nowhere. If I hadn't forwarded my mail to my parents and had them forwarding everything to me (where I'd already moved 3 times) I would have been completely oblivious to this outstanding amount.

clutton_2

""I would have been completely oblivious to this outstanding amount. " and may inadvertently ended up with a CCJ ......... due to lack of proper postal redirection