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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Letting agency gave notice on utilities

20 replies

Greenkit · 01/04/2019 10:16

That really AIBU to be annoyed that my letting agency have given notice on my utilities.

I am due to leave my rented property at the end of April, contract ends I have given notice.

AIBU!

OP posts:

Hellmistress · 01/04/2019 10:42

It's to ensure that you receive and pay for your final bills. Nothing sinister, they just don't want to have to deal with the utilities companies after you've gone. Please remember to take photos of your final readings to ensure you don't get charged for any usage after the end of your tenancy.

n.b. They are not "your" lettings agent, they are the landlord's, in whose interests they are always supposed to act. Unless it conflicts with their own interests, of course, then the landlord is on their own....

EscapeAnywhere · 01/04/2019 10:46

That's normal practice, as the LL (or next tenant) shouldn't be liable for your utility bills up to and including your moving out date.

It keeps everything clear for hand-overs when the dates all match up!

Kennehora · 01/04/2019 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GemmeFatale · 01/04/2019 10:50

Are you annoyed because you were trying to pull a fast one and leave the landlord with your last bill? Or are you intending to stay put and force the landlord to use the court process to evict you?

I can’t imagine any other reason to be upset about this.

LiveFatsDieYoGnu · 01/04/2019 11:24

In 11 years of renting I never came across this. It would annoy me because it is infantilising and suggests tenants aren’t capable of managing their own affairs. The contract is in my name, so it’s my business to start and end it. Also, some accounts e.g. internet provider are portable, so I would want to manage that to ensure I could move the account to my new address rather than close and re-open.

GarthFunkel · 01/04/2019 11:35

Weren't the bills/accounts in your name? How did they do it?

kaytee87 · 01/04/2019 11:37

I'm surprised they'd be able to do this if the accounts are in your name.

Original poster

Greenkit · 01/04/2019 11:37

LiveFatsDieYoGnu exactly this....

I have potentially incurred extra charges as they have told them i wish to cancel, not move them with me.

OP posts:

kaytee87 · 01/04/2019 11:38

Someone other than you wouldn't be able to cancel your account unless you've given them permission to act on your behalf.

Kazar99 · 01/04/2019 11:41

If the accounts are all set up by you and in your name, how did they manage to give notice to the utility companies? Is that not a breach of the data protection act somewhere - sounds like the utility companies haven't got very good security process to check identities plus for the letting agents to be able to phone up they must have had knowledge of the providers and account details. Even if you had given the letting agents those details, presumably you didn't give the letting agents permission to take action on the accounts on your behalf.

RebootYourEngine · 01/04/2019 11:43

How do they know who you pay your Utilities to?

Dungeondragon15 · 01/04/2019 11:46

They can probably tell the utility companies that they will be taking over the accounts from the day you move out but I don't see how they can have closed them yet as you are still there and they are in your name. Have you contacted the broadband provider to move your account?

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 01/04/2019 11:48

Why does your Landlord have access to your account information and who your providers are?

When I rented my LL wouldn't have had a clue who we were getting to provide our utilities.

Dungeondragon15 · 01/04/2019 11:49

Are you annoyed because you were trying to pull a fast one and leave the landlord with your last bill?

Why would the landlord be responsible for the bill if it is in OP's name? The debt is hers as long as it's in her name.

Dungeondragon15 · 01/04/2019 11:51

I have potentially incurred extra charges as they have told them i wish to cancel, not move them with me.

Just contact them and tell them you don't want the account to be closed as you want to move it to the new address. They aren't likely to turn down business!

Original poster

Greenkit · 01/04/2019 12:09

They mush have informed a new supplier that as of 29 April (blaa) will be taking over.

So my utility company have contacted me to say, sorry your leaving us etc

OP posts:

TulipsTwoLips · 01/04/2019 12:13

Write back and say thanks but I’m not leaving you then!

GemmeFatale · 01/04/2019 13:03

Dungeon, as a landlord I’ve had tenants tell the utilities company I’ll be taking on the bills from the day they gave notice. Every time that’s happened I’ve had to produce our correspondence to get the last bill sent back to the tenant. It’s fixable but a pain so if I was doing it now yes I’d contact the utility company and let them know when I was taking the property back, with a copy of the correspondence to save myself some hassle.

HauntedPencil · 01/04/2019 14:44

I've never had this, you can't give final readings until your last day so what's the point?

I've had to evidence my bills are paid before return of bond though.

kaytee87 · 01/04/2019 14:54

*They mush have informed a new supplier that as of 29 April (blaa) will be taking over.

So my utility company have contacted me to say, sorry your leaving us etc*

So they haven't closed your account then? All they've done is phone the supplier they want to use and informed them they're taking over the address from that date.
The supplier has then sent you a letter, you'll still need to give final readings and move/close your account.

When I moved into an address my brother had been living at years ago. I phoned up the supplier saying I was moving in on x date. They then sent a letter 'sorry you're leaving us' to my brother. I hadn't mentioned his name or closing his account.

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