Tenants 'leave without paying utility bills'
Published: 13-Jul-2007
Landlords are facing administrative headaches because tenants are leaving without settling gas and electricity bills, a new report suggests.
Figures released by the consumer website moneysupermarket.com show that 2.2 million people in the UK have move property without paying for their utilities - leaving new tenants or the landlord to sort out the problem.
Another 900,000 people never bothered to let gas and electricity suppliers know that they had moved into a new property and so are not paying anything for their utilities.
"Our research uncovers the reality of millions of ghost customers who have slipped through the net, whether through deliberately keeping a low profile or just being lost by their supplier," explained Paul Schofield, head of utilities at moneysupermarket.com.
"This seems to be a common occurrence today, especially with younger customers who move more frequently and live in urban areas.
"After a significant period of non-payment, there could also be complications over the amount you owe if you do not retain official proof of when you moved into the property and what your meter readings were at the time."
