Tenant has left shared house without settling utility bills
Tenancy Deposits

msanecdote
msanecdote
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1 Posts
15 years ago
0
I had three tenants in a house - one has left without settling his share of the utility bills, which amounts to £160. The three were sharing the bills previously without a problem.

I did not take a deposit at the start of the tenancy, but charged him two months' rent in advance. As there were no problems with damage, he was working out his last month and so I am not holding any of his money.

He had said he would pay his share of the bills to the other tenants, but left a week before he was due to, taking all his possessions, and is now not answering his phone to them, or to me. He has taken on another tenancy elsewhere as I have previously received a reference request from an accommodation agency.

He is due to return his keys to me on 31/1 - the official tenancy end date. (Due to the above, I have my doubts whether this will happen.)

My question is, if he does not pay his bills, who is responsible for the shortfall? (I feel I made a bad decision with regard to not holding a deposit for him, hence leaving the other tenants unprotected.)

Secondly, should I wait until 31/1 to see if he returns the keys before doing anything?

Many thanks.

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