Npower want to make me liable for unpaid utility bill  in the name of my letting agent

Npower want to make me liable for unpaid utility bill in the name of my letting agent

16:06 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago 8

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My letting agent is supposed to fully manage the property, collect the rents, pay all bills, and pay me an agreed net monthly rent.ziggy

Npower have now traced me as the property owner, and although the contract is in the name of the letting agent, say that if he doesn’t pay (which looks increasingly unlikely!) that I could be held liable – as the landlord – for the debt.

Can anyone with some legal knowledge on this matter please comment.

Pleeese!

Juliet


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Neil Patterson

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16:08 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago

Hi Juliet,

Do you know if meter readings were taken or have proof of when the tenants occupied the property?

juliet bonnet

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17:08 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Neil Patterson" at "22/06/2016 - 16:08":

Hi Neil,
Its let as rooms to include all utilities
. Npower had been sending correspondence to an obsolete office address that the property manager had left, - and to the property too, I think. they managed to find me through the Land registry, and it seems its more than £6000 dating back to 2014!

Neil Patterson

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17:14 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago

Oh dear you may need legal help.

See our legal tab >> https://www.property118.com/private-prosecutions/

Ian Murton

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19:46 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago

I had a similar incident with npower where the property company put the bills into my name though it should have been in theirs. Npower were chasing me for a £147 bill. I sent them a copy of my agreement which stated that I was not responsible for the bills up until the company went into liquidation. It was a 6 month battle but finally I got my £147 back plus the £15 debt collection fee and £300 compensation. I did this all through there in house complaints team making sure to tell them on every occasion that they were in the wrong and I was quite happy to go to Ofgem with my evidence. They have a complaints target to make and if they go above they will be fined heavily again. The last one was £26 MILLION.

juliet bonnet

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22:00 PM, 22nd June 2016, About 9 years ago

Thanks for that Ian. Useful to know!

Luke P

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9:10 AM, 23rd June 2016, About 9 years ago

Does your agreement state 'full management'?

Mike T

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13:57 PM, 24th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Ian Murton" at "22/06/2016 - 19:46":

Yes , I too had the same scenario. Stick to your guns though. You may be the property owner but the bills were not in your name and you did not consume the electricity. Npower's contract was with the agent/tenant - not you.
A good way to ensure this does not happen again is to register your name, as owner, with the utility company/s and ensure the Tenant's name is on the actual account not yours. This works well as long as you also advise the company of any change in tenant. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Smithy

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13:46 PM, 25th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Npower? I could write a book about my problems with Npower. It has taken me from 16 October to this month (yes - eight months!) to sort out the most recent issues.

So your story does not surprise me.

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