Tenant not paid ESB - reconnection charge for landlord?

[rabbit]

Just wondering if a tenant of an apartment goes off without paying the ESB bill - and the ESB account is in their ( the tenants name ) - and the ESB disconnects the ESB at the same time as the account is so high / overdue ....will the landlord or next tenant have to pay a re-connection fee to the ESB to get supply reconnected ? The tenant was sent recently a final warning letter saying the account will be disconnected soon if not paid, and a re-connection fee will apply. Anyone got any experience here ? Thanks in advance.

 

[Trent]

Sounds like the landlord is liable unless he / she can get the previous tenant to pay the charge. I can't see any reason why the next tenant would / should be liable in any way though.

 

[sam h]

Have they left? If not, you could take it out of the deposit, but if they have done a runner, I reckon you will have to pay. They must have been really behind as the ESB are actually quiet slow to cut off as it is considered an essential service.

I think your new tenant will also end up having to pay a deposit, as the "house" will now have a bad rating.

 

[Bronte]

Contact the ESB and tell them you will take over the account and not to disconnect. Then switch it over to the new tenant, that's what I do and I've always found the ESB very helpful and very slow to disconnect. Be aware that tenant's who are planning on doing a runner are probably the type that run up ESB bills. In any case if the ESB do disconnect you will have to pay the reconnection charge.