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My Stupid Landlord-Friend Didn’t Transfer All Utility Bills Over To Her Tenant

02 Nov 2009

It’s ok, I can safely call her stupid because…

a) She ignored my advice (Transfer Utility Services Over To Your New Tenants)
b) She was careless
c) She’s my friend
d) She’s a girl- I’m way more powerful than her

Whenever a landlord gets a new tenant that is contracted to be responsible for paying the utility bills, the landlord should ensure that all the appropriate utility accounts (e.g. gas & electricity, water .etc) get transferred over to the new tenant. As I’ve previously said, DO NOT leave it in the capable hands of the tenant, even if they insist on doing so. Trusting your tenant is a virtue that will bring you DOWN! It’s nothing personal; it’s just playing it safe.

I specifically remember telling my dipshit-friend to ensure all the appropriate accounts are transferred over. Of course, she was totally cavalier about the whole scenario like a rebellious teenager is towards their parents’, and responded with a relaxed, “I’ve transferred everything, calm down” response, I imagine while she was blowing on a rod of super skunk.

3 months down the line, guess what’s happened. Yup, she’s sobered up and noticed a direct debit of £20 leaving her account every month, which is paying for her tenants water bill *slaps forehead*

Obviously she forgot to transfer everything. Now my dipshit friend is in a tricky position- she has to transfer the account over to her tenant after 3 months and extract the money from her tenant.

Good luck, friend (dipshit) =]

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Talk / 6 Comments left so far

Matthew wrote this on 2009-11-04 11:17:51 Use a decent letting agency and they take care of everything for a small management fee! I cannot understand anyone wanting the aggravation of dealing with their lettings themselves!
Matthew 1

The Landlord wrote this on 2009-11-04 11:22:19 Cannot understand? I don't think it's extremely difficult to understand, to be honest.

It's the difference between saving 10-14% (full-management fee) of your annual rent...

Kind regards :) 2

SN wrote this on 2009-11-04 21:28:17 I usually take the meter readings, write them at the top of the signed tenancy agreement and phone the supplier that evening with the final reading and name of the tennant (and my home address for my final bill to be sent to). If I don't receive final bill / confirmation within a week or so I call them again to check. It's 2 mins work (plus 10mins on hold!) and I'd never pay for an agent to do it. 3

SN wrote this on 2009-11-04 21:29:52 Oh, and I also right to the council giving them the tennants name and date their tennancy commenced (and also include my exemption application for the void where it has been unoccupied and I've been trying to let it. Anyway, not rocket science 4

Sam wrote this on 2009-11-05 10:25:48 You should always take a photograph of the meter readings and time and date it - that way there cannot/ should not be disputes 5

Fiona wrote this on 2009-11-07 17:26:38 Matthew - Whats not to understand? Being a Landlord is a business and therefore you want to make money not give it to a letting agent so they can make the profit!
Arent they just an over paided go-between anyways? The boiler breaks..the tenant phones the letting agent...the letting agent phones you. Hmm.

As for the other comments about taking a meter reading...really does depend on if the property has a water meter installed a lott dont. I know my property does not have one.
But has made me wonder if tenants prefer to be on a water meter or just a fixed rate every month. 6