Right, here's the problem:

We're currently in rented accommodation (4x Students) and when we moved in, paid water rates for the year of about £275, which we believed was for the entirety of us being in the house for this academic year.

This morning we recieve a letter containing water bill for almost £306 for the period 1st April '05 to 31st March '06.

We're moving out of the house at the end of the contract (June), so really don't want to pay out over £75 each for something we think we've already paid.

What we think has happened is that we paid the rates for the period 1st April '04 to 31st march '05, and the tennants before paid the period 1st April '03 to 31st March '04 and so on.

If this is the case, then what do SNetters think we should do?
Currently thinking along the lines of:
1) Leaving it for the next tennants to pay or
2) Phoning the Water company and asking their advice

TIA
Bex

 

1) Presume you are liable rather than Landlord?

2) Think you might be pushing your luck if you leave it unpaid until June when you leave

3) I wonder what would happen if you just calculated 3 months worth and sent that amount to Water people.

4) What are other students doing as they must be in same situation

5) If you have a good relationship with Landlord you could always ask but try to avoid the "you pay up and I will refund you when you leave" scenario

6) If your college/uni has an accommodation/finance office you could always ask their advice as this must happen every year to students and thay will be on your side!

just 2p's worth D

 

Any number of possibilities. I assume you are not on a water meter, if you are then it's a bit easier.

Either way, when you are going to leave (1 month before) notify the water board, tell them you are moving out and ask for a refund for the period they have charged you for that you are not using.

You could try and sort monthly payment but they may be less keen on that if you are students.

Finally, as you have suggested, for the sake of a 5 minute phone call, see what they say.

 

Our landlord used to pay the bills like this, and we would pay her for the period when we were living in the house, and the next tennants would pay the rest. Never had any problems doing that.