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Landlords not reponsible for tenants’ water bills
A new report from the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been welcomed by landlord bodies.
It was proposed last year that landlords be automatically charged the unpaid water bills of their tenants. This led landlord organisations such as the British Property Federation (BPF), the Residential Landlord’s Association and the National Landlord’s Association to lobby the independent Review, which published its report in December.
The Review has thrown out the suggestion that landlords be charged the unpaid bills of their tenants, provided that the landlord (or the letting agent acting for the landlord) ensure that they inform the water companies of a change of tenancy.The water companies should make sure they make it as easy as possible for the landlord or the letting agents to notify them of a change of tenants.
Reacting to the Review results, Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy (Real Estate) at the BPF, said:
“Our actions have averted the immediate threat of legislation that could have seen landlords automatically liable for their tenants’ water bills. Following lengthy discussions with the water companies and Review team we believe a satisfactory outcome has been achieved.
The water companies have significant problems with bad debts. However, to make landlords instantly liable for their tenants’ water usage and debts would have been inequitable and run against the environmental objectives of wider water metering. We are pleased therefore to have thrashed out a compromise that sees landlords and water companies working together for the benefit of the wider public.”
Phillip James Letting Agents provides all landlords with a utility reporting service. We take meter readings and report these directly to the utility providers every time there is a change of tenancy.
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