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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:
MinnieGirl · 05/05/2024 09:12

Startingagainandagain · 05/05/2024 07:31

You need to discuss this with the water company first, not the landlord.

Ring the water company and explain the situation saying you want to double check you paid everything already to cover the period you were in that property. If there is a small payment left then settle that and ask them for confirmation that your account has been closed and settled.

Then get back to the landlord explaining what you have done and that any bill since your leaving date is his responsibility until he finds new tenants. Then stop corresponding with him.

End of story.

This….
Explain to the water company that your ex landlord has sent you the bill and is demanding you pay it. You want to just double check you have paid everything you owe. And if you have, send the bill back to the landlord explaining that you have contacted the water company again, that they have confirmed you have fully paid up and that he is liable for the bill not you.

LakeTiticaca · 05/05/2024 09:13

Tell him to get stuffed. You are not required to pay for goods or services you don't use.
He's taking the piss

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 05/05/2024 09:18

Presumably he is referring to 1st to 17th April where you were liable. You really should get in touch with the water company to get this updated.

RedRobyn2021 · 05/05/2024 09:22

Of course it's not your bill

Mugcake · 05/05/2024 09:27

Agree with everyone else here OP, you could maybe offer to pay for the days in April your tenancy covered but other than that don't pay a penny. I'm not sure there's anything he can really do, you can prove when your tenancy ended and that you aren't in the property. If the bill is in his name then its his problem. I would just block him tbh he's being a CF

Kendodd · 05/05/2024 09:50

Have you got your deposit back yet OP? It should be held by an agency (not the LL) contact them about your deposit tell them LL is threatening to charge you this bill.

Kendodd · 05/05/2024 09:51

Make sure all communication with LL is in writing as well.

freshairplease · 05/05/2024 09:53

Surely he has just misread the dates and thinks the bill is for 2023-24?

Ducksurprise · 05/05/2024 09:55

Will the water company talk to Op as bill isn't in her name and she doesn't live there?

LumpyandBumps · 05/05/2024 10:01

I am a LL and where I am the water company doesn’t have a standing charge when the property is unoccupied. They don’t charge for future periods either. That seems odd to me.
The bottom line is that you have already had your deposit back, this bill is in his name, and he can huff and puff all he likes but it doesn’t make it your responsibility.
You probably should pay the couple of weeks before the tenancy ended even though you had already moved out, but your LL can pursue that with the water company and they can issue 2 separate bills if they agree.

BargainaciousBargains · 05/05/2024 10:33

The bill isn’t in your name so you are not liable unless a court deems otherwise.

If you’ve had your deposit back, I’d ignore him completely.

If you’re still waiting for your deposit, write to the company holding your deposit giving them all the details of when you moved out and your communications with the water company. Don’t bother engaging with the landlord.

BusyMummy001 · 05/05/2024 11:06

LJM29 · 04/05/2024 22:37

I lived there 3 years and paid in Instalments which were all paid up till the end of March. Sorry should have said in OP. Tenancy ended 17th April but I did move out a bit earlier which landlord agreed too

In this case, I’d calculate what 17/365 of the annual bill is (I make it £21.62) and send him a payment for that amount. And tell him he’ll need to pursue you through the small claims court, where the above calculation with be found to be a fair and reasonable settlement of your account.

Pinkbonbon · 05/05/2024 11:13

Well it doesn't say from when in April it starts does it? And clearly the bill arrived after you left. He should time his tenants better if he wants them to pay the water bill. You could send him April as a gesture of good will but the rest is up to him unless he gets reimbursed by his next tenant.

Imbusytodaysorry · 05/05/2024 11:28

Property is empty it’s his bill. Property has a new tenant it’s their bill. He is at it!

Imbusytodaysorry · 05/05/2024 11:32

LJM29 · 04/05/2024 22:44

The bills were always in my name but I informed the water company straight away of my move out date and new address. Bills are back in the landlords name now which he says he’s not happy about and is asking why is he receiving’my’ bills. He’s adamant it’s me who is to pay this

Show quote history

He is hilarious!

PickledPurplePickle · 05/05/2024 11:36

You should pay up to the date you moved out directly to the utilities company, then the landlord takes over from there

BroughttoyoubyBerocca · 05/05/2024 12:04

Did you agree to pay rent until contracted date? If so then you owe bills to that date also. I would contact the water company, give exact date and meter reading, then pay what you owe. Landlord should cover costs if property empty between let’s.

SmudgeButt · 05/05/2024 12:12

DancingintheSpoonlight · 04/05/2024 22:40

Contact the company and they’ll charge you up until you left and no further.

If the property is empty, no one has to pay. If he’s doing maintenance, he has to. If he’s that bothered he should get a water meter.

I do the recalculations day in and day out and can tell you, if you emailed me with this I’d not expect you to pay anything towards someone else’s bill. If you don’t pay, the debt recovery will be in his name.

Tell him to give them a call so they can sort it for him.

Even if a property is empty and no one is using any water there can still be a daily standing charge. Might depend on the water company but I know there is for our area. Same as there's a bill for water use and another for water waste - but I think that's less common.

For the OP - it's predominantly the LL's bill. Offer to pay the £21+ suggested by others and that's the lot.

cranberrypi · 05/05/2024 12:14

LJM29 · 04/05/2024 22:37

I lived there 3 years and paid in Instalments which were all paid up till the end of March. Sorry should have said in OP. Tenancy ended 17th April but I did move out a bit earlier which landlord agreed too

You are still liable for bills to the end of your tenancy

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:
TomJonesHuhhh · 05/05/2024 12:22

£8.92 + £8.92 + £4.46
1-7
8-14
15-17

£22.30 at most

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.

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

Also no water meter in the property

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 12:48

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:
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