Water bill dilema.
Discussion
A colleague of mine is freaking out as he is about to move out of his rented place (where he's been for four years) and has just been sent a letter by the water company.
The letter (wrongly) says something like "Our records show that you have just moved in and are the new owner/tennant of this property, please fill in the attached form". The form asks his details and, importantly, asks when he moved in. Nothing unusual so far although having been there 4 years, 'just moved in' is wrong.
The problem comes because he has never paid a water bill since he moved in. For the first couple of years he received bills but they were being paid by direct debit by, he assumes, a previous tenant.
He is worried that if he puts the actual date he moved in, they will charge him for four years worth of water which he would struggle to afford as he is trying to buy his own place. On the other hand he doesn't want to lie and stitch up his landlord (who is a family friend).
The only advice I gave him was to be honest and see what the water company say. Since giving this advice I wondered if anyone else had any experience along these lines and what happened.
He also asked how much it could be worst case scenario (it's a 3 bed house with 3 people living there) if they ask for four years worth up front. I couldn't help in as my rent is all inclusive. Any thoughts?
note: I'm sure I've got some details slightly wrong but the jist is right.
Thanks in advance.
The letter (wrongly) says something like "Our records show that you have just moved in and are the new owner/tennant of this property, please fill in the attached form". The form asks his details and, importantly, asks when he moved in. Nothing unusual so far although having been there 4 years, 'just moved in' is wrong.
The problem comes because he has never paid a water bill since he moved in. For the first couple of years he received bills but they were being paid by direct debit by, he assumes, a previous tenant.
He is worried that if he puts the actual date he moved in, they will charge him for four years worth of water which he would struggle to afford as he is trying to buy his own place. On the other hand he doesn't want to lie and stitch up his landlord (who is a family friend).
The only advice I gave him was to be honest and see what the water company say. Since giving this advice I wondered if anyone else had any experience along these lines and what happened.
He also asked how much it could be worst case scenario (it's a 3 bed house with 3 people living there) if they ask for four years worth up front. I couldn't help in as my rent is all inclusive. Any thoughts?
note: I'm sure I've got some details slightly wrong but the jist is right.
Thanks in advance.
Most likely scenario to me is the landlord had been knowingly paying it as part of the rent then changed the billing address after those first two years so they were sent to his own address, hence them "stopping". As the family friend is moving out he's now decided to get the new tennant to pay and informed the water company, so theyve sent out a generic mail to "the tennant" so they get informed of when they move in
If someone else was paying, the monthly statements you say he received would have been addressed to that person surely, so he'd have been fully aware of who it was so I dont buy that. Anyway, if that person suddenly stopped paying then surely there'd have been some chaser-for-payment letters from the supplier before now, rather than a "you moved in recently" type message.
If someone else was paying, the monthly statements you say he received would have been addressed to that person surely, so he'd have been fully aware of who it was so I dont buy that. Anyway, if that person suddenly stopped paying then surely there'd have been some chaser-for-payment letters from the supplier before now, rather than a "you moved in recently" type message.
As a landlord I once had a tenant, who unbeknown to me every time he received a red letter from the local water authority, would phone them up and say he had just moved in, giving them a new fictitious tenant’s name, and then when the next red letter bill arrived, repeat the same.
I believe there is a possible legislation being put in place, that in the OP’s friend’s case, will seek to hold the landlord responsible for any outstanding water bill.
As for the OP’s friend’s situation, the form can only be completed and returned, if the OP’s friend was in receipt of the same.
I believe there is a possible legislation being put in place, that in the OP’s friend’s case, will seek to hold the landlord responsible for any outstanding water bill.
As for the OP’s friend’s situation, the form can only be completed and returned, if the OP’s friend was in receipt of the same.
Wings said:
As a landlord I once had a tenant, who unbeknown to me every time he received a red letter from the local water authority, would phone them up and say he had just moved in, giving them a new fictitious tenant’s name, and then when the next red letter bill arrived, repeat the same.
I believe there is a possible legislation being put in place, that in the OP’s friend’s case, will seek to hold the landlord responsible for any outstanding water bill.
As for the OP’s friend’s situation, the form can only be completed and returned, if the OP’s friend was in receipt of the same.
Yes legislation is coming in new year where if the landlord doesn't inform the water company of the new tenant and date moved in the landlord gets the bill. Northumbria Water has a webpage for entering details. Presumably the others will also have the sameI believe there is a possible legislation being put in place, that in the OP’s friend’s case, will seek to hold the landlord responsible for any outstanding water bill.
As for the OP’s friend’s situation, the form can only be completed and returned, if the OP’s friend was in receipt of the same.
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