Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

[wales01man]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

To do anything suggested the OP needs to find out the whole story from the start without this info are the rather disadvantaged until the bailiffs action is called in the bailiff will go after them for the debt and the fees?

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

[QUOTE=CleverClogs;392785]Whose bath overflowed?

Were they also one of your tenants or did someone else own the flat upstairs?


It is a 2 bedroomed terraced house so the bathroom belonged to the tennant.It was the tennants that caused the damage.
To explain in great detail seals and tiles at one end of the bath were broken by tennants children.This caused water to seep through and eventually an area of the ceiling below caved in.

The tennant has since moved out btw

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

Thanks for the reply

It was a 2 bedroomed terraced house.The seals and tiles at on end of the bath were broken by tennants children standing on them.Water then seeped threw causing the ceiling to cave in below.

The building is of brick construction

The tennants moved out of the property shortly afterwards.In arrears incidently.

[wales01man]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

With the info above who is liable the Landlord or the tenant?

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

Hi Gordon

This wasnt a council house btw .I am a private landord

By the time council work men arrived the ceiling had already collapsed so there was just a few bits of damp plaster board dangling.Nothing i would call dangerous.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

It is a 2 bedroomed terraced house so the bathroom belonged to the tennant.It was the tennants that caused the damage.
To explain in great detail seals and tiles at one end of the bath were broken by tennants children.This caused water to seep through and eventually an area of the ceiling below caved in.

The tennant has since moved out btw

Thank you.

Whose tenant were they?

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

Hi Mr Jack Russel

No i didnt receive any notifications as any notices went to a servive address i no longer use.

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

They were my private tennants but they were in receipt of housing benefit.

I have no idea why the tennants called the council and not me.Other than the fact they thought i would be annoyed and bill them for causing the damage.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

By the time council work men arrived the ceiling had already collapsed so there was just a few bits of damp plaster board dangling.Nothing i would call dangerous.

Unless the ceiling had been replaced, it is more likely to have been made of lath and plaster rather than plasterboard.

The council "workmen" may have needed to remove more damp plaster to inspect the joists of the floor above and to check that there was no rot present that might compromise the strength of the floor above. If rot had been present, then the weight of a bath full of water could have made the floor collapse and you, as the landlord, could have been facing a much bigger claim in damages.

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

To Alsation

Notices were sent to a service address i longer use.Had i of received them i would have attended court and defended the case.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

No i didnt receive any notifications as any notices went to a servive address i no longer use.

That is simply stupid.

Had you updated your service address, you would have learned of the problem much sooner.

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

To Golden Retriever.

It was a 2 bed terraced house so the tennant occupied both upstairs and downstairs.

I truely believe the council could have and should have acted under s77 as the ceiling had already collapsed so the damage and any danger has already been done.

The costs were absolutly extortionate.The council workers literally pulled away the remaining damp plaster board with thier fingers.They didnt need to.If the plaster board was going to fall it would have fallen already.
They also did not carry out the work du diligently.They should have used a stanly knife and cut out only damp plaster board instead by pulling on the plaster board they caused more damage by pulling down dry plaster board to creating more work once the ceiling is to be repaired.

They then cleaned up the mess and left.This would come under not immediate danger but inconvienience comment.

They incurred no materials costs and so it was just in my estimation an hours work.

I was billed £814.71 for in my opinion is £50 worth of work

[wales01man]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

Did you not when you changed the address knowing that the council were after you for money for an invoice that was disputed not withdrawn inform them of the change of address,
You may find in law they are allowed to serve papers at your last known address after all its not their fault you changed address or did you inform them?

Sorry to be so blunt but tis is how things are and the council has a duty to recover debts unless that debt is cancelled

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

To Red Slater

I am not on here to ask for help on my stupidity but to gain knowlege on what to do to recify my situation.

I am not that stupid not to know had i have updated my service address i would have learned about the problem sooner.So thank you for stating the obvious.

[ABIDOXXX]

Re: Being chased for a debt i dont believe i owe.

Yes i appreciate that and i accept responsibilty for where i am at,at the moment.

But now i wish to have the debt cancelled as i dont feel as though i am liable.