I've just moved into a property with tons of bills from the previous tenant. I've written on them No longer at this address, please return to sender on them and put them in the postbox. But am worried that I'm going to have the bailiffs calling!! Does anyone know what happens to this, how will they track the previous tenant? Will I be liable for this?? Help!!
2007-01-11 01:34:43 · 7 answers · asked by lizzybee 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
It's true, you won't be liable to pay these. you did the right thing by putting the letters back in the post as return to sender (altho you shouldn't have opened them in the first place if they weren't addressed to you)
Don't worry about the bailiffs. They have no legal rights of entry, so talk to them through the letterbox or an open and window and explain that you are not the person they are looking for. Don’t let them into your home.
Also, it used to be the case that you might get bad credit from this but the law has changed and the address doesn’t hold the debt, it’s the individual who will have a bad record.
2007-01-11 01:44:15 · answer #1 · answered by Robin the Electrocuted 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't worry: you can't be held liable for someone else's bills. The only exception to this I can imagine is for utility bills--gas, water, electric--because they usually are protected by laws or contracts that give them the right to shut off service to an address, no matter who is living there, if the bills aren't paid in full. However, should this be the case, it's really your landlord's responsibility, not yours, since the landlord owns the address. If a business tried to collect a previous tenant's personal bills from you, contact your consumer protection agency. If it's the utility, contact your landlord.
2007-01-11 03:13:01 · answer #2 · answered by AnOrdinaryGuy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will track previous tenant it is eneviatble, just keep sending them back not know at this address. I recently moved, and with work I was away for 8 weeks, so forgot to have my mail forwarded, also since I had to fly out on 1 days notice I never got chance to call utilitiy companys! Not wise, but when I hit UK again I had final bills.... so dont stress. Really must get that redirection order in! lol
2007-01-11 01:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by djp6314 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, you are not liable. You are doing the right thing. Let the landlord know though, they may be able to help.
The landlord MAY be liable (so unfair) for some of them. My city makes me liable for the trash bill if my tenants don't pay up. So, your landlord will appreciate a heads up on the situation.
Most agencies will be able to track the old tenant down, as they have their SSN.
2007-01-11 03:19:21 · answer #4 · answered by Landlord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take them to either your landlord or letting agent they should deal with them when i last rented i had good few hundred owing from last tenant who did a runner but they took the bills and sorted it, if you weren't living there then you don't owe them!
2007-01-11 02:21:31 · answer #5 · answered by Babything 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont worry bout it hun...all you are liable for are your own bills. if they cant track the old tenants (electoral roll, signing up for new contracts. etc) it will be writtne off as a bad debt.
2007-01-11 01:44:27 · answer #6 · answered by meowser 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry you're NOT responsible for any of it!! Your credit rating can suffer though because of debt at that address
2007-01-11 01:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by Sir Sidney Snot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋