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How far back can a landlord create their own water bills and try and charge for them?

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  • How far back can a landlord create their own water bills and try and charge for them?

    We have rented our small cottage for over ten years, during the first five years of the tenancy this was managed by landlord A.

    The agreement was that the water bills for us and our next door neighbours was included in the rent and this was what happened.

    When the property was taken over by landlord B five years later this agreement continued. However last year out the blue we received a text message from the new landlord demanding an extortionate £1,000 pounds in water rates which back dated three years! (He took property over three years before).

    We have asked for physical bills from the water company and breakdowns and meter readings and so far we have received nothing. He's starting to bully us and even in the middle of the street asked for the bill to be paid immediately!

    A) Can he backdate bills?
    B) Can he make his own bills up?

    We have got a tenancy agreement with the original landlord A , drawn up by a local estate agents on their standard form, but due to an clerical error it states that we have to pay utilities which includes water. (This was not picked up at the time) and now landlord B is saying pay water bill as per contract. But this was never the attention from landlord A.

    Not sure if we have any legs to stand on as its in our contract but feel just to receive a text message to pay a £1,000 bill is making me uneasy!
    Tags: None

  • #2
    The landlord can seek reimbursement for bills that should have been paid as long as 6 years ago (the limitation period for claims for breach of contract).

    He cannot "make the bills up". If he were to take you to court he would have to provide evidence of the amounts he is seeking to be reimbursed.

    Perhaps the way forward for you is to say that given the amounts you will need time to pay, and if you can see the bills you will put a proposal together. Next time he hassles you in the street you can remind him that he hasn't yet sent you the bills.

    You will of course need to budget for these items going forward.
    Lawyer (solicitor) - retired from practice, now supervising solicitor in a university law clinic. I do not advise by private message.

    Litigants in Person should download and read the Judiciary's handbook for litigants in person: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/..._in_Person.pdf

    Comment


    • #3
      Things to think about...

      1. Is your landlord reselling water? There are rules

      2. If something happens with your water supply, who gets the savings or compensation on the guarantee standards?

      3. Does the Water Company offer discounts for those on low income, if this were your case?

      4. Overcharging? To be assessed on evidence

      5. Is there a meter? Can you access it?

      6. If no meter, you need copies of the bills to see the charges (water and sewerage costs).

      7. Once you get the bills... You'll be able to see if your landlord is the customer, the supply address, numbers of persons in house, how many bedrooms, dates of bills and each period of charges plus actual charges and meter number if on a meter.

      8. These are advance questions, point 7 above, you can ask if you need to send a reminder letter to your landlord about getting copies of the bills.

      9. Any considerationsor changes, try to let them benefit you!



      My declaration...
      Please note that I am a layperson reading through this forum.
      My main interest is about Wills etc because of my family's current predicament...

      Comment


      • #4
        Was the transfer of LL notified to you correctly?

        Comment

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