UK Landlord Forum / Life

As the title says. I've had past experiences where the tenant has not paid a bill and it came back to me.

This time I don't want that to happen. The tenant has already told the elec/gas company their forwarding address and moving out date. However can I wait until the bill actually gets paid and then release the deposit?

Thanks.

You (as Landlord) don't become responsible for another person's bill.

If a utility supplier has told you that - then you've been conned - but by them.

When a Tenant leaves, you can trust that they'll inform the utilities of that fact, and their final meter reading and their forwarding address etc.. But you do it as well.

You take a meter reading.
You take a forwarding address.
You inform the utilities that you are now liable from that date.

Then the bill doesn't come back to you... it can't... you didn't use the product.

So what you say / claim doesn't make much sense to me. Having done this procedure many, many times. I reckon you're thinking about the problem in the wrong way.

You have no responsibility for paying utilities or council tax arrears owed by tenants. If you don't have a forwarding address,it is not your responsibility to chase tenants. None of this should have any bearing on when you pay back the deposit.

Understood, thanks for the clear advice!