Bills - who is responsible for paying them?

kruram

hi,just want to know same answer ,
i was renting apartment,and all bills was on landlord aunt names,so who is responsible for paying them?
and its is acceptable rent book by law,it is note book,where is only one signature by tennant in the start of tenancy,and for other payments there was not any signature,just landlord write amount and date,didnt give any receipt to tenant,and rent was paid by cash.
there wasnt any leasing agrement,whre we can see whose responsibility it is,and what is tenant and landlord rights.so,no lease and was not for fixed period.
thanks

djimi

Did you rent the entire apartment or just a room?

Either way its your responsibility to pay your bills, of course. Why would you think otherwise?

kruram

djimi wrote: »

Did you rent the entire apartment or just a room?

Either way its your responsibility to pay your bills, of course. Why would you think otherwise?

all apartment.
becouse landlord claimed aunts household benefit package to pay bills,while aunt was in nursing home. and landlord refused to put bills to new tenant names.

Lantus

kruram wrote: »

all apartment.
becouse landlord claimed aunts household benefit package to pay bills,while aunt was in nursing home. and landlord refused to put bills to new tenant names.

he can't change the names because only the aunt is eligible. As she is now not in the property she isn't eligible so he is 'pocketing the money.' The package gets up to 1800 units a year of gas or electric. plus a free telephone and tv license.

I personally would not pay a bill in another persons name. It is normal when you rent a property to change names over and arrange payment and account with the utility providers as required.

It doesn't sound like the aunt is coming back. The property should of been registered with PTRB and if its rented out her housing benefit claim is longer viable. See text of qualifiying conditions from citizensinfo

Other qualifying conditions

• You must be permanently living (that is on an all-year-round basis) at the address at which you wish the allowances to be applied. The allowances do not apply if you live in a nursing/retirement home where the accommodation is not fully self-contained. However, if you are aged 70 or over and live in such a nursing/retirement home and you have your own telephone account, you may be eligible for the Telephone Allowance
• No other person in your household can be receiving the allowances.
• You must be the registered consumer of electricity/gas if you are applying for an Electricity/Natural Gas Allowance and the registered telephone account holder if you are applying for the Telephone Allowance.

Your options are to keep stum and pay the reduced bills which is technically theft from the state or refuse to pay them in another persons name.

You have no contract so if you've paid a deposit and 'anger' this landlord he may well just keep your money and it will be very hard to get your cash back without any proof you were even there.

tony81

Is there a problem op?
Clearly you're responsible for bills if you're running them up.

kruram

tony81 wrote: »

Is there a problem op?
Clearly you're responsible for bills if you're running them up.

where it is written,by law?
becouse we didnt have any agreement where we agree to pay bills which was not on our name.
landlord only registred us with PRTB after 2 months when we left property.

the_syco

kruram wrote: »

landlord refused to put bills to new tenant names.

If you used the facilities, the landlord could bring you to court for not paying the bills, but considering

kruram wrote: »

becouse landlord claimed aunts household benefit package to pay bills,while aunt was in nursing home.

I'd wonder if the landlord would want his business anywhere near the courts?

Ask him for hard copy of said bills, to ensure he hasn't added on any extras. Also, are you now out of the apartment, and he's trying to chase you for the bills?

kruram

yes ,i am out of apartment for 2 years now,and he went to PRTB to get this money,as we refused to pay this bills,and this is the reason why he just after 2 months registered us with prtb.
in the beginning we asked to put bills on our name,but he refused,and landlord said that we don't need to pay as he is getting benefit for it,and for landline he will pay,but now he is asking us to pay all.
after few months his aunt died and even then landlord refused to put anything to our name,even refused to give us rent agreement.
and for rent book he used in computer same tabs in excel,and note book,where was fixed by him amounts what we give him,hi didnt provide us with receipts or even didnt ask to sign anywhere to prove that we give money,or we have arrears. so i dont know is this proper rent book aswel,if this case will go to court,can he use this aswell? than ,i can also write on paper same amount and claim that i overpaid to him?

Monty Burnz

That landlord is a crook. Screw him (within the law).

the_syco

kruram wrote: »

as we refused to pay this bills

Did you refuse to pay the bills because he refused to put them in your name? If o, ensure you mention this.

kruram wrote: »

landlord said that we don't need to pay as he is getting benefit for it

As the aunt was no longer living there, I'd wonder what other benefits he was collecting, and if what he did was fraud?

kruram

Monty Burnz wrote: »

That landlord is a crook. Screw him (within the law).

how to do this?because prtb is saying that we need to pay,so we will appeal this.

Janey_Mac

tony81 wrote: »

Is there a problem op?
Clearly you're responsible for bills if you're running them up.

But the bills aren't addressed to him. He shouldn't even be opening them, so how would he be able to pay them?

I have lived in flats where the bills were addressed to the landlord and he'd invoice the tenants for the amount on the bills, but it was the landlord's responsibility to inform us of the charges and pass on the initial breakdown of charges etc. if we wanted it. If bills are showing up addressed to Mrs. Landlord's Aunt, why would the tenant even open them? I wouldn't.

kruram

the_syco wrote: »

Did you refuse to pay the bills because he refused to put them in your name? If o, ensure you mention this.


As the aunt was no longer living there, I'd wonder what other benefits he was collecting, and if what he did was fraud?

yes,becouse in the begging of tenancy landlord said that we don't need to pay,so if he change his mind after while,than he must provide us whis this changes,but he didnt.

i dont know what else he was collecting,but after we move out we reported social office about this household benefits and landlord.

djimi

kruram wrote: »

how to do this?because prtb is saying that we need to pay,so we will appeal this.

If the PRTB know the full story and are saying that you need to pay then you need to pay.

The issue of the landlord committing fraud to me is a seperate issue and one which you could have him persued for if you wish to go down that road, but it doesnt change the fact that in a rental accomodation you are responsible for paying the utility bills (unless you have it in writing that the landlord said that you are not).

kruram

djimi wrote: »

If the PRTB know the full story and are saying that you need to pay then you need to pay.

The issue of the landlord committing fraud to me is a seperate issue and one which you could have him persued for if you wish to go down that road, but it doesnt change the fact that in a rental accomodation you are responsible for paying the utility bills (unless you have it in writing that the landlord said that you are not).

we din't have anything in written,just in verbal everthing.

djimi

Verbal agreements mean nothing unfortunately, especially when it comes to a PRTB case. For something as unusual as the landlord telling you that you do not need to pay bills you would need something absolutely concrete in writing to back that up.

StillWaters

So am I right in saying there has been a PRTB case, and they have ruled that you must pay the bills? In which case I think you must, you had an opportunity to argue your case. I don't think there is an appeal process in PRTB.