Liability for electricity bills

[jeffrey]

1. L was trying to deceive at least the Local Authority (Council Tax). You're well out of it, I feel.
2. Since the Electricity bill is in L's name, though, why are you worrying about it?
3. Finally, remember that L is resident so you + other occupants are merely lodgers without any security; the Housing Act 1988 does not apply (and you do not hold an AST, even if that's what document you were given) because she is a resident L.

[mikegrant]

My resident L's £3600 electricity bill

I have moved into a flat four months ago which currently has 2 other tennants, one being the landlady. She herself is not registered to live here and so is avoiding paying council tax. I have never really trusted her with anything (especially financially) and I handed in my notice a couple of days ago.

Yesterday i came back from my christmas break to find stuffed in our letterbox crumpled up was a letter from our electricity suppliers demanding the landlady pays an unpaid bill of £3600. As stated on the letter, somebody had come round to the house to discuss the bill with her. It said that within 7 days of this letter she could either 1) have somebody come round to install a pay as you go electricity meter 2)summon her to court 3)give her a credit rating or something along those lines and there was also a 4th option which i can't remember.

I asked her about this when she came in last night and she just laughed it off asying that she doesn't owe that much and they're 'just trying to scare her'. I don't trust her one bit though, and today she's left the house unusually early and to me this suggests she doesn't want to deal with anybody coming round to the house. Before she came in i showed my other flatmate the letter and he took down her account details from the letter for if anything happens.

This bill suggests she has not paid her electrics for a very very long time, and i have no idea what she's playing at because with the rent she's been recieving from tenants over the years she could easily have paid it. I'm just wondering what will happen if/when the suppliers follow up on this and come round to the house? Is there any way they can take all my stuff? Should me or the other tenant contact the gas suppliers ourselves?

Any advice would be much appreciated,

Mike

[midlifecrisis]

But so what. Nobody is going to prosecute him for it. And if your son refuses to pay the VAT element then L will reclaim it through the courts.

Argue about the quantum if you wish; argue about the liability. But you're wasting your time on the VAT.

He has issued a false instrument claiming VAT that he is not entitled to therfore we want a bonafida invoice. Claiming VAT when you are not registered is a criminal offence. I just want the right documents

[Grange]

They have also stated that he cannot merely duplicate another companies invoice (the energy supplier).

But so what. Nobody is going to prosecute him for it. And if your son refuses to pay the VAT element then L will reclaim it through the courts.

Argue about the quantum if you wish; argue about the liability. But you're wasting your time on the VAT.

[midlifecrisis]

Electricity bills have VAT on them. I guess he is just disclosing the VAT on the original bill, so I think you are reading too much into that.

I have just spoken to HMC&E (who were very helpfull) and they have said that he (the LL) cannot issue any bills to my son with VAT showing unless he is VAT registered and then he show is VAT number. They have also stated that he cannot merely duplicate another companies invoice (the energy supplier).

[Grange]

Electricity bills have VAT on them. I guess he is just disclosing the VAT on the original bill, so I think you are reading too much into that.

[Colincbayley]

Two things.

1) What does it say in his tenancy agreement about who is liable for the bill?

2) If the bill is not in his name, then I don't think the LL can charge him for it.

[midlifecrisis]

Good morning all.

My son moved in to a 1 bed flat with his partner last October signing a 6 month lease.

Due to various problems with it ie

Shower not working for 2/3 weeks
Extensive damp
Cooker working intermitantly

They left the flat teminating the lease properly agrring to pay the rent until the termination date (Appril 2008).

The landlord has now hit them with a £580.00 bill for electricity.

Now I own a 3 bed extended semi, with gas central heating electric cooker etc and my bills only come to £100 month

The bill is typed in the landlords name which has VAT shown sepertely.

Questions are, does the landlord need a licence to re-sell power? can we demand to see the priginal power bill?

I am also sure that he cannot add VAT on the invoice as he is not VAT registered as it is not shown on the bill can (his registration number that is)

Cheers