Liability for services as a result of break in tenancy

[flip_flop]

We sold our house a couple of years ago and until last September had been renting. Last September we bought our new house.

We broke our tenancy agreement on 1st September - the tenancy was due to end on 1st October. As we broke the tenancy we paid the rent up until the end of the tenancy and on our last day gave the electricity company the meter reading and made sure the services were all fully paid and up to date.

A couple of weeks ago we received an electric bill of £100 for the rented house for the period between 1st September and 1st October - i.e, when it was empty.

We've chekced with the utility company and they've advised that as our name was on the account until 1st October (the actual end of the tenancy) we have been billed for it - as a result I've paid it for fear of getting a black mark against my name.

I've queried the bill with the letting agent and they've just simply trotted out "as you broke the tenancy you are liable".

I fully accept we were liable for the house for the period in question - and have no problem with this - but what nobody seems to be able to tell me is how can £100 of electricity be used in an unoccupied house? When we were living there we didn't pay that much.

Any idea where we can go now?

I'm thinking of getting the landlord involved as the letting agents are useless (for all I know somebody could have been living there for the month in question).

[bednobs]

of course someone was using the electricity - in hindsight it would have been better for you (as you were paying anyway) to give notice for the 1st October and just not given the keys back till then (and still popped in on occasion)

[flip_flop]

With hindsight, I completely agree - I must have had a brainstorm at the time not to realise!

[themas]

Ask the agent the specific question - was anyone living there that month? If they say nho, ask them how it is possible for £100 of electricity to be used in that month.

If you don't get a satisfactory answer, go direct to the landlord.

Incidentally, was a moving out inventory done by the agent when you left, & could you use that to demonstrate to them that nothing electrical (such as an immersion heater)was left switched on?

Again, with hindsight you should have notified the electricity supplier that you moved out on 1 Sept. & told them to close your account. I'm not sure why this didn't happen as you obviously gave them a meter reading on that date.