House lease/Unpaid utility bills

[Hilts]

I've just moved back into my house after leasing it for a few years and today received two overdue notices from EDF for over £ 600 each. Nice.

I think one will be gas, one electric.

The bills cover from the end of May 2011 to June 2012 which is the same period as the last tenants who had a 12 month lease.

I'll be phoning the leasing agency tomorrow but until then has anyone been in a similar situation?

[Sir Bagalot]

Yep. There was a tenant in my flat for 17 months and after she left it became apparent that the only bills she ever paid were Gas (only because I was billed and passed the cost on) and the Rent (of which she always paid on time except the once).

No Council tax paid, Electric, Water and she owed Orange a shade under £1K. My policy was I took the time to call each company once to explain the situation, gave them the forwarding details I had, and all future mailings were returned to sender.

Then the baliff letters started. Againa I rang them once. Each!

Two years and four months on and I received another letter only last week. At this stage I simply ignore them.