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Original poster

Landlord says this is my bill to pay?? Photo attached

119 replies

LJM29 · 04/05/2024 22:29

I moved out of the house in mid April. Landlord has sent a very passive aggressive email with this bill attached that he’s received today. It’s in his name. He says I owe this bill and need to arrange paying it out of my bond that he sent me back. He says he doesn’t expect these bills. Looking at the dates it’s a yearly water bill charge for April 2024-March 2025 but I’ve moved out. How can it me that’s liable for this charge? I can’t make sense of it? Who is right??

Landlord says this is my bill to pay?? Photo attached
OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 05/05/2024 21:45

I think this is the most pertinent point in all of this. And also that LL seems beyond stupid if he's trying to "spin it" (op's words) that she needs to pay it.

LIZS · 05/05/2024 21:39

Notaflippinclue · 05/05/2024 21:33

I've never heard of paying for water in advance - is this the done thing?

Usually either monthly dd based on estimated usage/rate, twice a year, or annually.

Notaflippinclue · 05/05/2024 21:33

I've never heard of paying for water in advance - is this the done thing?

RamblingAroundTheInternet · 05/05/2024 17:37

Do you have written proof LL let you leave the property a bit earlier with date noted?

You need to pay the water bill up to the date you left and tell the water company to rebill the landlord from that date. Raise a dispute with the tenancy deposit scheme with proof of the above attached explaining LL is trying to withhold deposit wrongly.

If you did leave on 31st March so don’t owe anything more for water, raise a dispute immediately with proof of agreed end of tenancy date and water bill in LLs name explaining the same.

I very much there will be any issues with getting deposit back.

I wouldn’t be paying anything to the LL directly or dealing with him any further as he’s obviously a complete c**t!

TBH I didn’t think LLs could withhold the deposit for unpaid utilities as all they have to do is tell the companies to bill you. An unpaid bill in someone else’s name is not going to affect them. Final bills can sometimes take a few weeks to come through anyway.

HollyKnight · 05/05/2024 17:15

Does he think this is the estimate based on your usage over the last year? That's the only reason I can think for why he thinks that amount is your responsibility. Which is still wrong.

Youdontknowmedoyou · 05/05/2024 16:03

Not your bill, not your problem.

fridgegrazer · 05/05/2024 15:06

SmudgeButt · 05/05/2024 14:34

Tell him you'll be happy to pay (your share) once you get your deposit back as you can't afford it otherwise. Then pay him the £20.

I don't think that will work as he wants to deduct the whole amount of the bill from her deposit and just return what's left to her - is that right OP?

SmudgeButt · 05/05/2024 14:34

Tell him you'll be happy to pay (your share) once you get your deposit back as you can't afford it otherwise. Then pay him the £20.

heartbroken22 · 05/05/2024 13:58

Very cheeky handing you the bill for the full year 🤣 tell him you're only liable to pay for the first 2 weeks of April

Farcis · 05/05/2024 13:56

Agree that you might have to pay up to 17th April as you are liable for bills (and actually rent) up until the end of the tenancy, unless you have it writing that he agreed to end the tenancy early (which I have done if I have someone else lined up to move in but have to do some work before they do - there’s always something at the end of a longer tenancy!!).

Beyond that, on the basis of any inventory, he needs to release your deposit and if I were you, I’d be contacting the DPS people on Tuesday if he doesn’t.

I’m not in the Severn Trent area but where I am, I’d be contacting the water company to explain the property is rented, when the next tenant is arriving, and asking for a revised bill on that basis. There’s always a tiny bit to pay between tenants but honestly some of the utility companies write it off as the value isn’t worth the admin.

Spirallingdownwards · 05/05/2024 13:51

LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:46

Basically, my deposit is still with the deposit scheme but he hasn’t clicked accept to release it yet. He wanted proof that I had payed up all utility bills until he released it back to you. He’s not saying because he’s had this bill come through he’s withholding it as he doesn’t think I’ve paid up. I’ve pointed out the dates but I think he’s acting like he doesn’t understand so he can withhold the bond for longer

Raise a dispute with the deposit scheme saying he is refusing to release deposit for no valid reason.

Spirallingdownwards · 05/05/2024 13:50

LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:48

I have had a WhatsApp message back from Severn Trent confirming this isn’t my bill and that my account at that address is settled up to 31st March so I’m going to send him that as further proof . Happy to pay the £20 odd up till the end of tenancy on the 17th April

Ask the waterboars to raise a bill for that period though and pay them direct. Don't send LL any money.

Spirallingdownwards · 05/05/2024 13:49

MrsMoastyToasty · 04/05/2024 22:52

Actually I realised they are billing for 365 days not 364 so it's 17/365 of 464.26 which is £21.62.

Yes as a year is 365 days they have produced an annual bill for the full year not a year minus one day 🙄

squirrelnutkin10 · 05/05/2024 13:47

As a LL.... do not pay this is not your bill!!
Tell him bluntly it is not your bill end of.

Hoolagan · 05/05/2024 13:45

Absolutely do not pay more than the £20 you owe. He is complete CF

Badburyrings · 05/05/2024 13:27

HcbSS · 05/05/2024 13:21

Block him

That wouldn't be helpful as he has her deposit and is threatening to take the money from it before sending back to her.

HcbSS · 05/05/2024 13:21

Block him

GRex · 05/05/2024 13:04

LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:48

I have had a WhatsApp message back from Severn Trent confirming this isn’t my bill and that my account at that address is settled up to 31st March so I’m going to send him that as further proof . Happy to pay the £20 odd up till the end of tenancy on the 17th April

You actually haven't paid to 17th Aptil yhough, so I'd be really careful what you say; get that paid and then folow up.

Original poster
LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:49

He’s now saying *

OP posts:
Original poster
LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:48

I have had a WhatsApp message back from Severn Trent confirming this isn’t my bill and that my account at that address is settled up to 31st March so I’m going to send him that as further proof . Happy to pay the £20 odd up till the end of tenancy on the 17th April

OP posts:
Original poster
LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:46

Basically, my deposit is still with the deposit scheme but he hasn’t clicked accept to release it yet. He wanted proof that I had payed up all utility bills until he released it back to you. He’s not saying because he’s had this bill come through he’s withholding it as he doesn’t think I’ve paid up. I’ve pointed out the dates but I think he’s acting like he doesn’t understand so he can withhold the bond for longer

OP posts:
Original poster
LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:43

Also no water meter in the property

OP posts:
Badburyrings · 05/05/2024 12:22

@LJM29 What is his wording in the email where he is trying to spin it that you pay. It doesn't make any sense at all. How did you word your email?

Quite simply this bill is for the coming year. You paid all the bills during your tenancy (perhaps get proof from water company) and "maybe" he can argue you owe him the 20 odd quid for the crossover period in April before you moved out.

I would add that if he attempts to take a payment for a future bill from a property you no longer live in then you will be taking him to the small claims court (very very easy to do an about £35).

I can only assume he is incredibly thick and has not read your email correctly or understood what you are saying.

TomJonesHuhhh · 05/05/2024 12:22

£8.92 + £8.92 + £4.46
1-7
8-14
15-17

£22.30 at most

Original poster
LJM29 · 05/05/2024 12:17

Blarn · 05/05/2024 08:49

@LJM29 are you with Severn Trent? It looks familiar to my bills. They send you the amount for the year ahead, whether a prediction for a meter or the exact amount if you sre on rates. There would have been the same for 23/24 and you would have paid it during the year.

Your landlord can speak with the water company and they will explain it to him. If you contacted the water company with the date you left it is it likely they have already billed you and you have paid for that anyway, if it was 2 weeks into the new billing year for example.

It is Severn Trent yes

thanks everyone. I didn’t think it could be mine and I’ve told him the dates on it and he’s still trying to spin it so that I pay.

I will contact the water company

OP posts: