Will student tenants leave the utility bill?

Will student tenants leave the utility bill?

10:34 AM, 9th January 2023, About 2 years ago 6

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Hello, my question is, I have a buy to let property, and have noticed my tenants’ gas and electric bill is outstanding at £2,600.

They are overseas students so when they disappear will I, the landlord, be responsible for paying it?

Thank you,

Shahin


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11:32 AM, 9th January 2023, About 2 years ago

Whose name are the gas and electricity accounts in?

Judith Wordsworth

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11:32 AM, 9th January 2023, About 2 years ago

Inform the Dean of the University they are studying at; also their guarantor (presume you have); their Embassy and our Home Office and Immigration
Did you find these students yourself or through the Uni or an agent?

Robert M

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11:34 AM, 9th January 2023, About 2 years ago

Who's name is the on the bills, yours, or the tenants?

Was it let as a joint AST with all tenants jointly and severally liable, or was it let as individual rooms?
If let as a joint tenancy in the tenant's name, then I believe that the utility bills would be in their name, providing it was not a "bills included" letting?

If it was a "bills included" letting, or if you let on individual room tenancies, then I believe that you would be liable to pay the utilities. (though you may be able to sue the tenants for anything they may be liable for under the terms of your tenancy agreements).

Chris Rattew

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16:30 PM, 9th January 2023, About 2 years ago

We let with bills included. Some landlords do this with a cap. Most of our tenants are overseas students and all are short-term of less than 3 years. The premium for inclusive tenancies seems to more than cover the extra costs, and now tenants are avoiding being bill payers. However, if their names are on the bills, they have to pay, not you. However, future tenants may be given pay-as-you-go meters, which would not attract tenants.

Judith Wordsworth

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11:46 AM, 15th January 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert M at 09/01/2023 - 11:34
No point in trying to Sue if they are foreign students who have gone back to their own country

Judith Wordsworth

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11:48 AM, 15th January 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Christopher Rattew at 09/01/2023 - 16:30
My last tenant in a recent past property was quite happy with a prepayment meter.
The demand for rental properties is high so shouldn’t be a problem

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