Outstanding Bills / Deposit Return

Other

When a tenant leaves, a professional inventory clerk records the utility readings. I then email details to the suppliers including forwarding addresses and new tenant information (if available). I have now just started adding a clause to my email which asks the supplier to notify me within 7 days if there is an amount outstanding balance owed by the previous tenant. You will have guessed that my intention is NOT to be held responsible by a supplier for a tenant's unpaid bill.

Soon after the 7 days are up, I then start the deposit return process (with DPS).

In fact I don't really expect the utility suppliers to take note of my request, and, in any case, I wonder how willing they would be to pass over this information to me? Also, it may be unrealistic to expect a bill to be issued and paid within 7 days.

My questions are:

1) Can a utility supplier legally hold me responsible for my tenant's debt?
2) If so, by the supplier not responding to the clause in my email, would the problem pass back to the supplier on the basis that I have done all I reasonably can to find out if money is owed?
3) For how long after a tenant has left can I reasonably delay repayment of his/her deposit?

Perhaps there is another way I can ensure that I will not have to cough-up for money owed by a tenant?

Regards