UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have HMOs where tenants move in and out at different times on individual contracts. One of the conditions of the contract is tenants are required to demonstrate the utilities are paid up to date when they move out before their deposit is returned.

This has worked fine for 10 years but I now have a situation in a property where one tenant has taken responsibility for all the utilities and apparently has taken contributions from the other tenants, two of whom have recently moved out and are expecting their deposits to be returned.

The problem is they have no proof as to the balance of the utility accounts and the lady who has the accounts in her name has ignored all requests from them and me to provide statements or up to date bills for the accounts.

The tenant in control of the utilities is an idiot in general but when tenants behave in this fashion it normally means there is a problem. I have written to the tenant in hard copy and I have sent her emails. i have also spoke with her on the phone but subsequently didn't receive the information I was promised.

My question is where can I go from here? I'd like to return the deposits to the exciting tenants to avoid any associated hassle them (I like an easy life) and moreover I want to ensure that there is no risk to the supply of utilities at the property. However, i'm conscious of interfering with my tenant's 'right to occupy' if I press her further and I have no idea how I can access the utility accounts except through her.

Any thoughts?

You can't access the utility accounts except through her.

Put the pressure back onto the exciting Tenants - they can communicate with the boring Tenant for the information you require to release their deposits.

I don't think you should judge people on whether they are boring or exciting though.

An email to all Tenants at once would seem to be the way forward.

Dear A, B, C,

Before I can release the deposits to B and C I need confirmation that the utility bills are up to date, only A can provide this information. I've requested that this information be forwarded on to me, by A, as quickly as possible as I am not able to get this information from the utility providers myself. Once I have this information I will, of course, release your deposit immediately.

Yours, L

Hi DT.

Can I just point out that Hippo does tend to take the piss out of newbie posters. In this instance your spelling of exiting as exciting has been pounced on. But he also gives excellent advice. I have been the target of this gentle ribbing on a couple of threads recently and he has a couple of tag partners (I am thinking Boboff and Riptide here) who don't seem to suffer fools very easily. But like I said, if you can get passed this their advice is generally very good. Also look out for any tips off TheAngryLandlord which are usually very helpful indeed,

Aw, c'mon...

Aw, c'mon... what ? Do I not speaketh the truth ?
Looks like Mr Trump is on course to be the old one post wonder. How rude !

Hippos do not, can not, pounce.

I lie exciting tomoatoes.

Okay.


The utility lady has made some money by setting up a direct debit and giving false readings, she doesn't want to play because she will be out of pocket.


At the end of the day any liability will fall down to her, so fuck it, give them their deposit back.

... wish my tenant was exciting.  Just saying.:-)

Martha just point your tenant in the direction of the excite door.

No one post wonder here; just a bit pushed for time 'cos I'm running for president don't ya know?

Thanks for the comments and advice. That will teach me to spell check better although I do quite like the idea of labeling tenants as either exciting or boring.

The problem with pushing the responsibility back onto the tenants who have left is I have a vested interest in ensuring the utilities aren't in arrears. As you all know, it's never a good idea to leave it up to tenants to take care of something for you. Also, the exiting tenants have returned to Austria.

I reckon this all means its time to start using specialist utilities provider for shared houses.

Austria wow. How exciting. Good luck with the election campaign.