Water bill debt-HELP!

clubber24_7

Hey everyone, hope you can help,

I have been living in a houseshare with 3 other people as we're all students. We've lived here since sept 07, and are moving out next week. The only thing is none of us have ever changed the water bill into our name. I wouldnt because my name was already down for TV license, broadband and phone line.

Anyway, I opened a letter off United utilities, and it was a bill still in the previous occupant's name, saying that a debt of £550 needs to be paid asap and it is being passed on to Wescot.

I want to pay this bill, as I want my deposit back for the house, but
Dont want to call up and see how much it is as they may use my name and transfer the whole debt into my name, where only half actually is this year's (i.e. our bill). I also dont want to pay the £200 or so that we owe, without having the money first (had problems even getting £17 off 2 of my housemates).

I spoke to the letting agents and they said I should send a copy of my housing contract over to United Utilities, so they can calculate how much we owe from Sept 07-June 08, but again I dont see why I should be putting my name down, when 2 of the other housemates have got away without having to sign for anything!

Also had a 'telemessage' letter saying that we have 7 days to contact them :S

Hope you can come up with a solution, as don't want debt being put into my name and leaving me with bad credit for when I graduate, or the letting agents getting away with my deposit!

Thankyou!!

MrsTinks

Is the tenancy in joint names or in your name?

newsgroup_monkey

That's my thoughts too.

If the tenancy is in your name, I would have thought you were responsible for the debt. You will of course also be responsible for all of the deposit so it would be easy enough to take it out of that.

Obviously, things may have changed, but I remember as a student, we used to pay our Landlord individually but were responsible collectively for the bills.
If your housemates are that skint then surely they wouldn't want to default their deposit? Or is there slightly more to this (e.g. they "forgot" to pay their last months rent etc)?

Finally, I really would recommend speaking to someone at your SU. I was amazed how helpful they can be (and still are btw as my OH is a mature student). Not necessarily for the money (although they can in some circumstances) but they can put pressure on the other housemates to pay up and they're usually pretty good for advice.

proudmum_3

Hi there,
Firstly, don't panic!
My son is a second year student and house shares with 3 others. They all have individual contracts for their rent, but pay collectively for utility bills.
Why don't you contact the water board. The previous occupants should have cancelled when they left, and you should have been told that you need to contact them when you moved in. I know my son was 'let off' a couple of months payments as the house was unoccupied between June and September.
I am sure if you explain this to the water board they will come to some arrangement. Then you need to have a word with your housemates, after all you are all responsilble. Sooner rather than later before it goes to a debt agency.
Perhaps it could be paid when you all receive your deposits back, or the letting agency could deduct the amount owed from the three of you, then at least you know the other two will have oaid their share.
I suggest you do call them and just listen to what they have to say.
Good luck.

Geordie_Rover

Hiya

From my working experience within a Water Board Company, you need to register for the charges that you are responsible for.

If a new tenant takes over the property and they register for the water bills they will be asked about previous tenants before them.

In my experience, some landlords/letting agents contact utility companies to let them know about tenants that have took over the responsibility of bills in properties and people can be traced.

Remember - you are only responsible for charges from the date your tenancy starts until the date it ends.

Remember - communication is the best way forward. I know no-one ever wants to talk to company especially when in debt - come up with a payment plan with them over the phone to cover your arrears.

If your tenancy is in all your names you are all equally responsible for bills - read through your tenancy agreement as no doubt when agreements are made a paragraph within there will most certainly state that the tenant will be responsible for all bills (I rent with two others - we are all on the tenancy agreement - therefore as tenants we are all responsible)

Hope this helps