http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/landlords-face-liability-for-tenants%e2%80%99-unpaid-water-bills-under-government-proposal The LandlordZONE Weblog - news, economic and legal developments, current affairs and a knowledgebase for those involved with Rental Property, residential and commercial: Investors, Landlords, Property Managers, Letting and Estate Agents, Tenants and Professionals. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:26:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/landlords-face-liability-for-tenants%e2%80%99-unpaid-water-bills-under-government-proposal/comment-page-1#comment-7060 site admin Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:40:44 +0000 http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/?p=1490#comment-7060 This is something landlords and the landlord associations should fight tooth and nail. I can understand why this is a growing problem as tenants (as opposed to home owners) have become a far bigger proportion of the occupier population. However, the answer is for utilities suppliers to improve their administration systems, and speed up the issuing of bills, not for a regulation obsessed government to make landlords responsible for yet another expense. Anyone that's had dealings with these utilities suppliers will know what a total nightmare it is - dealing with call centres trying to get the their systems to up-date records when they should. Clearly the contract is between supplier and consumer - why should landlords get involved in this? If this liability is put onto landlords they will have no option but to include a water charge in the rent, thereby increasing rents for all tenants. What would clearly follow would be calls for the same to apply to electricity, gas and perhaps telcoms. Clearly, all of this would add very considerably to the landlord's workload. Editor, LandlordZONE This is something landlords and the landlord associations should fight tooth and nail.
I can understand why this is a growing problem as tenants (as opposed to home owners) have become a far bigger proportion of the occupier population.
However, the answer is for utilities suppliers to improve their administration systems, and speed up the issuing of bills, not for a regulation obsessed government to make landlords responsible for yet another expense.
Anyone that’s had dealings with these utilities suppliers will know what a total nightmare it is – dealing with call centres trying to get the their systems to up-date records when they should.
Clearly the contract is between supplier and consumer – why should landlords get involved in this?
If this liability is put onto landlords they will have no option but to include a water charge in the rent, thereby increasing rents for all tenants.
What would clearly follow would be calls for the same to apply to electricity, gas and perhaps telcoms.
Clearly, all of this would add very considerably to the landlord’s workload.
Editor, LandlordZONE

]]>