security deposit

triple nipple

Hi all,

Myself and the other half moved into an apartment a year ago and are moving out. Half way through the tenancy the property changed hands to a new company(owner)

Now we are being told that we must provide final bills for all our utility bills or they will not return our deposit.

Surely they cant do that? There is nothing in our original lease about this. Any advice?

Sarn

If all of the utility bills are in your name then it's none of their business as any outstanding bills will chase you.

Askthe EA

triple nipple wrote: »

Hi all,

Myself and the other half moved into an apartment a year ago and are moving out. Half way through the tenancy the property changed hands to a new company(owner)

Now we are being told that we must provide final bills for all our utility bills or they will not return our deposit.

Surely they cant do that? There is nothing in our original lease about this. Any advice?

Why would you not want to? Get the readings on your last day, ring your provider and transfer it to their name. Closing bill in 5 days. Deposit back then and your not getting charged for anything u don't use.

El_Duderino 09

Askthe EA wrote:

Why would you not want to? Get the readings on your last day, ring your provider and transfer it to their name. Closing bill in 5 days. Deposit back then and your not getting charged for anything u don't use.

True that the account will be closed in 5 days but how long will you wait for a final bill and get a confirmation letter? And how long to get it to the new estate agent and them to refund the deposit? Potentially weeks upon weeks.

Best thing would be to give all the utilities notice that your closing your account on x day and ask them to prepare to receive your final readings, pay your outstanding bill over the phone, close the account and send you an email to that effect. Check with your estate agent that they will accept email confirmation and you could have your deposit back in a normal time frame.

hognef

Sarn wrote: »

If all of the utility bills are in your name then it's none of their business as any outstanding bills will chase you.

This.

Askthe EA

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

True that the account will be closed in 5 days but how long will you wait for a final bill and get a confirmation letter? And how long to get it to the new estate agent and them to refund the deposit? Potentially weeks upon weeks.

Best thing would be to give all the utilities notice that your closing your account on x day and ask them to prepare to receive your final readings, pay your outstanding bill over the phone, close the account and send you an email to that effect. Check with your estate agent that they will accept email confirmation and you could have your deposit back in a normal time frame.

We ask for the same, where possible. With e billing old tenants usually give me the closing bill with 2/3 days. Its nice and clean and no arguments over who is liable for what. It doesnt take as long as it used to.

foggy_lad

Unless landlords are really incompetant/thick they will know that they are not liable for any utility bills of their tenants once those bills are in the tenants names.

There is no reason for them to be needing any final bills for any utilities at the property.

Boater123

foggy_lad wrote: »

Unless landlords are really incompetant/thick they will know that they are not liable for any utility bills of their tenants once those bills are in the tenants names.

There is no reason for them to be needing any final bills for any utilities at the property.

Most landlords are clever and competent enough to know that they are not responsible for utility bills in the tenants name. And a final bill will show that the utility supply remained in the tenants name all the way up to them moving out.

It's not unheard of for a tenant to call the supplier a few weeks before they move, around the time they hand in the notice, and close their account. And/ or close an account with a deliberately incorrect reading

Some suppliers will not close the account unless it goes into some one else's name. But some will. Some will let it go back into the LL's name without telling the LL.

Askthe EA

Boater123 wrote: »

Most landlords are clever and competent enough to know that they are not responsible for utility bills in the tenants name. And a final bill will show that the utility supply remained in the tenants name all the way up to them moving out.

It's not unheard of for a tenant to call the supplier a few weeks before they move, around the time they hand in the notice, and close their account. And/ or close an account with a deliberately incorrect reading

Some suppliers will not close the account unless it goes into some one else's name. But some will. Some will let it go back into the LL's name without telling the LL.

Nail. On. The. Head.