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puckxx · Oct 27, 2011, 12:32 AM

Hi it seems that all gas ,water ,electricity ,council tax bills etc,are not named with anyone living in the apartment,landlord ,other tenants ,letting agency ,those different names who appeared for a numbers of years now are not known by any of us and never lived in the last 3 years in the property ,it look like my letting agency or landlord doing a scam as those bills number one not get paid and arrears pilling and not giving us any answer ,plus those bills are supposed to be included in our rent ,we feel cheated as we paying for utilities who are not properly registred and not get paid as we keep receiving debt collectors letters warnings,is it fraud on they're part? What right we have as tenants? What's the law said? How can we be protected? Thanks for answering {e-mail removed} thank you

ScottGem · Oct 27, 2011, 03:44 AM

ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area. However, it appears you are from the UK.

I don't see a scam or fraud, but I do see a situation where you might have utilities shut off.

I would tell the landlord that if he doesn't get everything straightened out as to the names on the accounts in two weeks, that you will have all the utilities placed in your name (not sure how to deal with the council fees) and you will pay those bill and deduct the amount from your rent.

AK lawyer · Oct 27, 2011, 06:55 AM

I would also check with the utility companies, and the council, and advise them that

the persons to whom they are addressing the bills do not live there; and
your landlord should be paying the bill in any event.

puckxx · Oct 27, 2011, 08:27 AM

The landlord seems to be aware as well of the agency but still like to use names of unknow persons maybe to disguise fraud?

Aniabania · Dec 10, 2011, 12:15 AM

You should have a tenancy agreement with a date on when you have moved in and you should pay bills from this date only. Call gas, water, council tax offices and tell them that you moved on this and that day and want bills from thas date on only and the unpaid rest? Contact your landlord about it or give his number to the companies to contact them, easy!