Water bill

apples
apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

hi all

I live in a hmo, I used to receive water bills addressed to my flat number but the landlords name, yesterday I received the water bill in my name

The water system is connected to other rooms and there is a communal washing machine

I am definitely not paying it but wondered where I stand as I haven’t got my own water meter or water pipes as mentioned they feed off from other rooms

Thanks

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Comments

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    hi @woodbine thanks for the reply

    I am unable to talk to people I am not paying any way so I’ll throw the letter in the bin

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,753 Championing

    Living in a HMO then all of you should be paying a share of the bill. You really shouldn't just ignore a bill and pretend it's not there.

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    apart from mine everyone else’s bill is still addressed to the landlord, all the other tenants are junkies or alchies so they aren’t going to pay

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,712 Online Community Programme Lead

    Are you able to write to the landlord @apples? Previously was the water bill included within your rent?

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 875 Championing

    Since all other tenants have received bills addressed to the landlord, I recommend emailing the water company to clarify why the bill is addressed to you personally instead. It's essential to promptly address this payment demand in your name as a matter of urgency. You can handle this entirely through email; there's no need to speak with anyone directly.

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    hi @Adrian_Scope no the landlord are rogue and don’t care hence the residents I have to live with

    @MW123 thanks for the reply, when I try to contact the water supplier I get a contact number or WhatsApp option and I’m not giving my phone number using WhatsApp, if they send the bailiffs I have nothing here as I don’t keep valuable items here, and in court I can explain the water pipes feed from room to room

    Due to this property making my mh worse I wouldn’t pay a pound a month to live here, I’m not here by choice

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 875 Championing

    @apples

    While you should do what feels right for you, I gently suggest contacting the water company, even by post, to clear up the misunderstanding. If you don't remove your name from the bill, unpaid bills, even if sent by mistake, can be reported to credit agencies by UK water companies.

    This means a missed or late payment could appear on your credit report, affecting your credit rating for up to six years. This could impact everything from switching mobile phone providers to even securing a new tenancy agreement. I'm not trying to cause you any distress; I just feel you should be aware there could be problems. Take care x

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    @MW123 many thanks for the information very much appreciated, I will try to contact them during the week

    thank again

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    just rang them but because I wouldn’t give my name they wouldn’t talk to me

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,493 Championing

    If the bill is addressed to you, they already have your name. You will need to pass the security checks before they can discuss your account.

  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 5,409 Scope Online Community Specialist

    Due to data laws they will not talk about an account at all over the phone without passing some level of security. So this is something you will have to do. You could also write a letter detailing the issue to the water company, but you will still need to pen your name to the letter, otherwise how will they know what account is the issue?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,753 Championing

    How do you think they will be able to help you without first giving your details? They can’t guess what they are.

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    I told them the property is a hmo and the bill has to be made out to landlord but they didn’t care so neither do I

    Don’t need anymore replies to this post as I’m not paying anyway so don’t need to reply

  • Strawberry1
    Strawberry1 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,253 Championing

    More rises on water bills on the horizon. I will never know how they justify these issues.

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    Merry Christmas all

    Sorry to bring this up again, on Xmas eve I had a call from debt collector regarding this bill, I told him I’m not paying it and will be making a complaint to Thames water, he said in that case he’ll return this case to Thames water and I won’t be hearing from him again

    I received an email from my credit report as an update and Thames water have filed 2 missed payment reports, I’m not too worried about my credit

    when I contacted my landlord about the bill being in my name I received a reply that he has contacted tw and asked them to invoice the correct parties, however I am receiving a final payment for £151 from 2021 to 2022

    I have complained to tw but they just reply that I owe the money, I have sent another complaint this morning, and told my landlord to rectify this as well, but as the landlord has recently changed hands he didn’t seem bothered and was surprised that I’m not responsible for the bill, he acted as if I was

    Anyone know what action I can take against tw, I’d like to go to court so I can explain as tw don’t seem tolisten

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,842 Championing

    I haven't paid water bill for 24 years and definitely wouldn't now full of parasites

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,753 Championing

    Are you living in social/council housing? A lot of those landlords include water in with the weekly rent amount, which will be known as service charges. Housing benefit doesn't cover that service charge so the landlord will usually ask you to set a payment plan up to pay for that. This is how my social housing works and I pay for this by direct debit every month.

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 875 Championing

    It is essential to get formal confirmation from your landlord acknowledging their responsibility with Thames Water to address this issue. To resolve the matter, you should request written confirmation (via email) from your previous landlord about the billing arrangement, notify your new landlord about the correct billing procedure, and ask them to contact Thames Water to resolve the billing issue. Additionally, review your tenancy agreement, as it should clearly outline who is responsible for water charges.

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 875 Championing
    edited December 2024

    I understand your concerns about parasites in the water, but tap water in the UK is heavily regulated to ensure safety and quality. Water bills are not just a utility cost, they are a legal obligation. Failure to pay water charges can lead to serious consequences and issues for the person responsible for the payment.

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 404 Empowering

    Thanks for the replies @poppy123456 this is private accommodation @MW123 i have an email from my letting agent stating he has informed tw to re invoice the correct parties (which seems to have worked to some extent as the bill was originally from 2021 - 2025 and was £1159) now it’s just the final bill from 2021-2022 and £151, there are 9 households in this building but I am the only one receiving a water bill even though the boiler and washing machine is communal