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Periodic tenancy, tenant now leaving help

qwertyqwerty
qwertyqwerty Posts: 131 Forumite
First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi
My tenant has been on a periodic tenancy for a while now, and will now be leaving in January. I was wondering is there any documentation/proof I can get the tenant to sign to validate when they leave the property? This is just to cover me in case there are any unpaid utility bills, so I can provide proof who was living at the property.

Thanks,

Comments

  • quotememiserable
    quotememiserable Posts: 590 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    qwertyqwerty wrote: »
    Hi
    My tenant has been on a periodic tenancy for a while now, and will now be leaving in January. I was wondering is there any documentation/proof I can get the tenant to sign to validate when they leave the property? This is just to cover me in case there are any unpaid utility bills, so I can provide proof who was living at the property.

    Thanks,

    just get final readings in and take over the bills until the next tennant comes along. Any unpaid bills are a contract between your ex-tennant and the utility company. Nothing to do with you.
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic First Anniversary
    Usually you'd do a check-out inventory which will include photos of the meter readings. Any utilities up to that point are between the tenant and the utility provider(s).
  • Craig1981
    Craig1981 Posts: 769 Forumite
    First Anniversary
    as said above - if you really want to, you can document the return of the keys, which will hand responsibility back to you from that date
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,367 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    There's a lot of misconception on this forum about utility companies operate. The reality is that if the tenant de ide to claim they've left the property sooner en they do, and the company invoice the LL after that date, they will not be interested one bit as the contractual arrangement between the LL and tenant.

    I had a tenant who called and said they'd left 3 weeks before they actually did. I had the tenancy that showed that their fixed term expired at a later date but E-On were not interested in seeing it and told me that legally (questionable!) they have to assume the leaving date given by the tenant is corre t and if not, its the responsibility of the LL to sue the tenant.

    In my case it was 'only £150' and not worth going to court over it but ultimately they stole from me. Funny how they moved miles away to another rental property but I was ne er contacted for a reference!
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    Meet them at the property to hand over keys on the final day.



    Take a (duplicated) document with you, read the meters together andadd the readings toboth documents. Each of you sign - you keep one the tenant keeps one.
  • Wanderingpomm
    Wanderingpomm Posts: 524 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary
    FBaby wrote: »
    There's a lot of misconception on this forum about utility companies operate. The reality is that if the tenant de ide to claim they've left the property sooner en they do, and the company invoice the LL after that date, they will not be interested one bit as the contractual arrangement between the LL and tenant.

    I had a tenant who called and said they'd left 3 weeks before they actually did. I had the tenancy that showed that their fixed term expired at a later date but E-On were not interested in seeing it and told me that legally (questionable!) they have to assume the leaving date given by the tenant is corre t and if not, its the responsibility of the LL to sue the tenant.

    In my case it was 'only £150' and not worth going to court over it but ultimately they stole from me. Funny how they moved miles away to another rental property but I was ne er contacted for a reference!

    That’s why you need to do check out meter readings
  • Autumnella
    Autumnella Posts: 605 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    You could draft up a document yourself. I work for an energy company and have seen these from landlords with date tenancy ended and final reads for electricity, gas and water (penned in) all signed by both tenant and landlord.
    Make £10 per day-
    June: £100/£300
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