Unpaid Utility Bills

[MQP]

During a 6 month tenancy the utility bills had been put in the name of the tenants and then returned to the name of the landlord at the end of the tenancy. Forwarding addresses for the tenants were supplied to the utility companies however the bills have not been paid and the landlord is saying that before the tenants' bond was released that the letting agent should have checked that the bills had been settled and if not, deducted the outstanding amounts from the remainder of the bond. Is this the case? The utility companies are now re-sending payment demands to the original rental address in an attempt to recover the funds. Can anyone clarify the situation, please?

[Snorkerz]

Landlord is not liable for the bills so would not have been able to deduct their value from the deposit.

The utility company have obviously 'lost' the forwarding address for the tenant. A gentle reminder that their debtor is no longer at the address should do the trick.

[thesaint]

The utility companies are now re-sending payment demands to the original rental address in an attempt to recover the funds. Can anyone clarify the situation, please?

In whose name?