tenants unpaid bills

[muj200]

hello, i think i know the answer to this question but i could do with some verification.

am i liable for my ex tenants unpaid utility bills? i own the house but have never lived there and can prove the house was occupied by the tenant during the billing dates.

thanks in advance.

[Mr Veritas]

Sorry,but I think you lnow what I am going to say.
Although in the first instance the tenants ARE liable for the unpaid utility bills,if you cannot find/contact them then the payment of these bills falls to you as the Landlord/Freeholder.
IF you choose to ignore them (as I hope you won't) then the utility company would probably come after you as the soft option.
Once you have paid these bills, you could try and get redress in the Small Claims Court.However,if you don't know where the tenants have gone,or if they have insufficient funds to meet the courts judgement you are still in a fix.
I presume (from your question) that you didn't take a deposit from the tenant,or maybe you refunded it before the non~payment of the utility bills was apparent?
I suppose what I am saying is,pay the bills,and then if possible pursue the tenant.
Non payment of these bills would result not only in pusrsuit by a debt collecting agency,but also disconnection of supply.This would not bode well if you are trying to re~let the property to a new tenant.
I am sorry if this is not what you hoped to hear?

[Hazel104]

Hi

No you are not liable for utility bills as landlord.
If the bills are in the tenants name it is their liability as you are not a party to the contract between the tenant and the utility company. The only time you are liable is if the bill is in your name or during void periods.

Contact the company involved and explain the situation also explain you have proof of tenancy. It is their responsibility to find the tenants not yours if you do have any information that may help them do pass this on, even if it is a mobile number for them.

[themas]

Hazel is right, but only if the bill (i.e. the supply contract) was in the tenant's name. If it was in your name then you have the legal liability to pay it, whether you can recoup the money from the tenant or not.