A question for landlords who use an agency
Discussion
I've got a simple question, one that I will find the answer to on Monday anyway, but I just wanted to check my assumptions first.
I have rented a house since halfway through December through a letting agent. When I moved in the agency sent off my details to the council for the council tax, and to the electricity company and gas company, (the same company as it turns out, Scottish Power), and to the water company along with the meter readings on time of move in.
The council contacted me after a month with my tax bill and the water company with my water bill, but after I'd been in the house for two months and still not heard from SP I phoned them to be told they couldn't talk to me as I wasn't on their records as the bill-payer, but after I explained that I'd moved into the rental they said not to worry as it takes time to update their details. Fair enough, I've been putting money aside to pay the bills so as long as they're happy I'm happy.
On Friday I come home to a letter addressed to "Mr (previous renter) or current occupier" which is headed "Human Rights Notification" and says it's to inform me that they will apply for a warrant to gain entry to the property at the end of March to disconnect the services because of non-payment.
Now I'm not worried about that as I will, again, call them and tell them I have the money and they've never sent ME a bill at all, (I'm assuming the bills were amongst the letters that the previous renter had redirected), but it's plainly obvious that they haven't updated their records. What I want to know is this: they will no doubt want me to pay over the phone but as they haven't updated their records I want them to send me a bill containing the "from" and "to" meter readings so I can make sure that the "from" matches up with when I moved in - I have these readings in a letter from the rental agency when I moved in.
Will they do that, and will they accept these move-in readings as they were taken by the rental agency not me? I suspect they will but there is always a niggling doubt.
I have rented a house since halfway through December through a letting agent. When I moved in the agency sent off my details to the council for the council tax, and to the electricity company and gas company, (the same company as it turns out, Scottish Power), and to the water company along with the meter readings on time of move in.
The council contacted me after a month with my tax bill and the water company with my water bill, but after I'd been in the house for two months and still not heard from SP I phoned them to be told they couldn't talk to me as I wasn't on their records as the bill-payer, but after I explained that I'd moved into the rental they said not to worry as it takes time to update their details. Fair enough, I've been putting money aside to pay the bills so as long as they're happy I'm happy.
On Friday I come home to a letter addressed to "Mr (previous renter) or current occupier" which is headed "Human Rights Notification" and says it's to inform me that they will apply for a warrant to gain entry to the property at the end of March to disconnect the services because of non-payment.
Now I'm not worried about that as I will, again, call them and tell them I have the money and they've never sent ME a bill at all, (I'm assuming the bills were amongst the letters that the previous renter had redirected), but it's plainly obvious that they haven't updated their records. What I want to know is this: they will no doubt want me to pay over the phone but as they haven't updated their records I want them to send me a bill containing the "from" and "to" meter readings so I can make sure that the "from" matches up with when I moved in - I have these readings in a letter from the rental agency when I moved in.
Will they do that, and will they accept these move-in readings as they were taken by the rental agency not me? I suspect they will but there is always a niggling doubt.
Dixie68 said:
I've got a simple question, one that I will find the answer to on Monday anyway, but I just wanted to check my assumptions first.
I have rented a house since halfway through December through a letting agent. When I moved in the agency sent off my details to the council for the council tax, and to the electricity company and gas company, (the same company as it turns out, Scottish Power), and to the water company along with the meter readings on time of move in.
The council contacted me after a month with my tax bill and the water company with my water bill, but after I'd been in the house for two months and still not heard from SP I phoned them to be told they couldn't talk to me as I wasn't on their records as the bill-payer, but after I explained that I'd moved into the rental they said not to worry as it takes time to update their details. Fair enough, I've been putting money aside to pay the bills so as long as they're happy I'm happy.
On Friday I come home to a letter addressed to "Mr (previous renter) or current occupier" which is headed "Human Rights Notification" and says it's to inform me that they will apply for a warrant to gain entry to the property at the end of March to disconnect the services because of non-payment.
Now I'm not worried about that as I will, again, call them and tell them I have the money and they've never sent ME a bill at all, (I'm assuming the bills were amongst the letters that the previous renter had redirected), but it's plainly obvious that they haven't updated their records. What I want to know is this: they will no doubt want me to pay over the phone but as they haven't updated their records I want them to send me a bill containing the "from" and "to" meter readings so I can make sure that the "from" matches up with when I moved in - I have these readings in a letter from the rental agency when I moved in.
Will they do that, and will they accept these move-in readings as they were taken by the rental agency not me? I suspect they will but there is always a niggling doubt.
As a landlord I frequently get the same type of letter that you have received, in fact I addressed such a letter from a firm of Bailiffs only last week, resulted in me letting the Bailiffs into the property, taking a metre reading and going on their way.I have rented a house since halfway through December through a letting agent. When I moved in the agency sent off my details to the council for the council tax, and to the electricity company and gas company, (the same company as it turns out, Scottish Power), and to the water company along with the meter readings on time of move in.
The council contacted me after a month with my tax bill and the water company with my water bill, but after I'd been in the house for two months and still not heard from SP I phoned them to be told they couldn't talk to me as I wasn't on their records as the bill-payer, but after I explained that I'd moved into the rental they said not to worry as it takes time to update their details. Fair enough, I've been putting money aside to pay the bills so as long as they're happy I'm happy.
On Friday I come home to a letter addressed to "Mr (previous renter) or current occupier" which is headed "Human Rights Notification" and says it's to inform me that they will apply for a warrant to gain entry to the property at the end of March to disconnect the services because of non-payment.
Now I'm not worried about that as I will, again, call them and tell them I have the money and they've never sent ME a bill at all, (I'm assuming the bills were amongst the letters that the previous renter had redirected), but it's plainly obvious that they haven't updated their records. What I want to know is this: they will no doubt want me to pay over the phone but as they haven't updated their records I want them to send me a bill containing the "from" and "to" meter readings so I can make sure that the "from" matches up with when I moved in - I have these readings in a letter from the rental agency when I moved in.
Will they do that, and will they accept these move-in readings as they were taken by the rental agency not me? I suspect they will but there is always a niggling doubt.
If you phone SP on Monday, furnishing them with your details, possible they will want your previous address etc., the date you took up tenancy and the opening and present metre readings, then I expect they will furnish you with a bill.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff