Landlord asking for proof of water bill being paid before releasing deposit

[Strawberrybon97]

does anybody know if I need to do this? Obviously I will but I don’t get why she’s asking for this . If there was arrears do the bill then go to the landlord after check out?

You really can’t work out why she’s checking that you have paid all the bills before you move out…?

Well I’ve read that landlords arnt liable for unpaid bills. The bill is in the tenants name therefore the bill is with them. It’s all paid up anyway but I’ve never been asked for this information before so just wondering

Therefore the debt is with them*

Standard practice IME.

Because if you haven't paid it's a massive pain in the arse chasing you to pay.

No. This isn’t standard practice at all. If the bills were in your name it’s nothing to do with the landlord. They can only take it out of your deposit if they have suffered a financial loss. Any unpaid debt in the tenants name isn’t tied down to the property and will follow the tenant to their new address, landlord will not be responsible so should not try and claim for unpaid bills

Doesn't seem reasonable to me. If a council tennant was to get into arrears with their water bill, they wouldn't go to the council for payment. Nothing to do with the landlord.

No definitely not. Check Shelter website under tenancy deposits, they can’t deduct from or withhold a deposit for that reason

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I was asked for evidence our utility bills were paid in full by our last letting agency.

It’s not just really that they are paid in full, it’s that you’ve also closed your utility accounts on the correct dates and for example, not closed them too early so that the landlord may be chased for a period they don’t owe. It’s only because it’s a major problem and many tenants don’t put their name on bills at all.