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

[LJM29]

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??

He’s now saying *

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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?

Not your bill, not your problem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

He's a total lunatic. The bill is in advance for the year. But you can pay it by direct debit with agreement just like everyone else does. If he is not agreeing to release the deposit I'd give him a date to make a decision then dispute it. Maybe tell him he just needs to set a direct debit up then when he relets get a final bill. Keep all the evidence that there are no other issues in case you do end up in dispute

He's a total lunatic. The bill is in advance for the year. But you can pay it by direct debit with agreement just like everyone else does. If he is not agreeing to release the deposit I'd give him a date to make a decision then dispute it. Maybe tell him he just needs to set a direct debit up then when he relets get a final bill. Keep all the evidence that there are no other issues in case you do end up in dispute

I'm not being cheeky, I promise: does he have English as a second language?

I can't understand how he thinks it's your bill. Does he have a reading difficulty, perhaps? You don't even owe three weeks.

Is there a Citizens' Advice Bureau close by? They might be able to formulate the appropriate legalese for a letter of reply.

You need to contact the water company again. Tell them the exact date in April that you left the property, and ask them to send you a bill, and the landlord a revised bill. Don’t give the landlord any money, you owe the water company not him. Once your bill is payed then you simply tell your landlord you have paid up to the date you left and the water company have confirmed it is his bill for the coming year.
Contact the company holding your deposit and request it’s returned. He won’t be able to hold up returning as you have paid the bill to the water company and will have a receipt. That is why it’s so important not to give money to the landlord.

This!
you moved out in April 2024 and this bill is a prediction from April 2024 to March 2025. Do not pay it.

Dear Landlord,
I'm no longer living at the propert, so this bill isn't my concern. If you need copies of evidence showing which date I moved out then I'd Healy to send these to you.

Don't offer to pay the £21, unless he asks direct