my ex-landlord is a git

[missmoore]

Last July I moved out of the flat I shared with a friend, and although we left �500 worth of unpaid electricity bills, we left the �550 deposit with the landlord on the understanding that it would be used to pay off any outstanding bills from the flat. However, recently I've started receiving bills for the outstanding �500. I was always of the belief that our ex-landlord would pay them with the deposit. But now I can't contact him. any advice?? at all?!

[Loosehead]

Was there a problem retrieving the deposit? Why did you trust someone else to pay your bills? landlords deduct any relevant expenses from the deposit, is there any indication? final account? The correct way would have been to get the deopsit back and pay your bill I can only assume there is a good reason why you didn't. If you wan to keep your credit records clean you'll have to pay the bill and separately do your best to get the deposit back from the landlord.

[flyciderman]

Pay the bill and learn the leason, do not expect others to look after your business.

[missmoore]

I didn't 'expect' him to look after my business, it was written in the lease we both signed. I wasn't unable to collect the deposit, I wasn't in the country, my flatmate was meant to do that but unfortunately didn't. Paying the bill will result in me having to shell out �500 for the bill and �550 for the lost deposit, and as a poor student it's really out of the question.

[themas]

Nonetheless, if the account for electricity was in your name then legally you are responsible for paying it - not your ex-landlord. If the account was in joint names of you and your flat mate then both of you are jointly and severally liable, which means the electricity co. can pursue either of you for the full amount.

[Eve]

What did your lease say? was he responsible for bills, if so, why is the electricity bill in your name?

Write to him at the address for him on the lease (you could also try to find an address on www.192.com) but send to the lease address unless you know he's definitely not there. State that your tenancy terminated on "x" date and despite an agreement made that the deposit would be retained in order to cover an outstanding electricty bill (if that was the case) you note that neither the electricty bil has been paid or the deposit refunded.

State that you would like him to send you a cheque for the full amount within the next 7 working days (Just to check, is there any other reason why you may not get the whole deposit back?) in order that you may settle the outstanding bill.

Ask that if there is any problem with this to contact you as a matter of urgency and provide contact details. If he is unwilling to comply for any reasons ask him to state his reasons in writing.

State that if you do not hear from him within the 7 days that you will send the letter by registered post.

If you don't hear then send it by registered post with a cover letter giving him another 7 days. State that if you do not hear from him then you wil take legal advice.

Adjust the letter according to the type of relationship you had with him and keep copies of everything.

Pay the bill whatever the outcome, it my be an expensive lesson. See if you can come to an agreement with your ex-flatmate about paying for it. Don't avoid the company, talk to them and see if you can work out a repayment play. Ignoring them will only make matters worse, affect your credit rating and possibly result in legal action.

You could also try the Citizen's Advice Bureau - http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ or depending on where you're

[hydrogoose]

A deposit is never considered as a means to pay any bills a tenant might leave, it is for any damage or abuse of the property.

The bill is yours, you must pay it, the landlord will not be asked to pay it and why should he/she?

You should have collected your deposit in the correct way.

I strongly suggest that you pay the bills, as Gas and utility companies wont hesitate in placing a lrage black mark by your name meaning that when you need a loan, a mortgage, credit card, mobile phone - you'll have problems that could be more costly that 500� and definately more time consuming.

[flyciderman]

Have you spoken with your flatmate about this? Why did he not collect the deposit and sort out the electric bill? If you were going to beout of the country you should have made proper arrangments, as I said do not expect others to look after your business for you. Sorry it looks as if you have loss out but learn next time