Rented property- 4 months in and no energy bills

[cm22v077]

So, I moved into a rented property in November and haven't had an energy bill as of yet. When we moved in we were told the agent would inform the energy company but I'm guessing they haven't if we haven't received a bill yet?

We're moving out at the end of May so wondering if we might avoid a bill completely?

What would you do? Ring the energy people or just avoid it?
Are we likely to get a huge bill at the end of our tenancy? Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks in advance

Depends on how honest you are feeling I suppose....

There's a chance you could move out, get your deposit back and never hear any more about it... or you could get a huge bill at the end of your tenancy.... or you could call the energy company or the agent and get it sorted out.

Either way, the energy has been used so someone will have to pay for it at some point... and personally I think it should probably be the person that used it...

I would ask the agent. And I'd be putting an amount away each month so a big bill didn't catch me out.

If you read you tenancy I'm 99.9% certain it will say you are responsible for notifying utility providers. If there is an outstanding balance and the landlord becomes aware before your deposit is returned they could look to deduct it from the deposit.
I would ring all utility providers today and tell them, and I hope you have been putting money aside!

Even if the agent hasn't notified the utilities then bills may have come to the house in previous tenant's name or to the Occupier. Do you know who the supplier is ?

Have you got a record of the meter readings at the start of your tenancy?

you have to pay for the energy you use. If you don't you won't 'get away with it', you'll get credit hassles and CCJs. Oh, and it is theft.

the agent may have messed up. Spend a few minutes contacting the utility providers to get a bill.

We got a massive shock 2 months into our tenancy after receiving the 1st bill - it was 500 just for the gas over a 2 month period (Jan & Feb admittedly). The property had been empty for a couple of months and I can't remember the details now but it was cheaper for the landlord to have the gas on a standard tariff ticking over. You need to check it asap because you probably need to switch to a cheaper tariff and of course you are liable even if you've not had a bill.