I just moved in a new tenant today, and when we checked the water meter, I discovered to my horror that the reading was 100 cu m higher than I expected - because I misread the meter two weeks ago when the previous tenant moved out :eek:
My tenants always have accounts in their own names. Normally we agree the meter readings on check-in and check-out; on this occasion though the tenant didn't read the water meter* and she asked me just to let me know what it was (we had a very good relationship); which I did. Don't I regret that now!
She will have notified the water co herself, I haven't contacted them myself at all yet (was going to wait until the new tenants arrived before doing so). So the previous tenant will have paid a much lower bill than anticipated (may even have got a rebate I expect) but currently there's an unpaid bill of around £120.
So I'm toying with what to do now. My wife thinks it's my fault and I should just swallow the bill... although I could contact the old tenant and let her know - sorry! - and she may well agree gracefully. I could also just notify the water co of the correct retrospective reading dated 2 weeks ago (real reading hasn't changed in 2 weeks) so am sure she could easily be compelled to pay (whether she agrees or not).
So - I know it's not quite up there with some of the other crises posted on the forum, but am interested to hear how other landlords would handle this one!
*Because the meter is in the pavement, at the bottom of a dark, dirty hole and awkward to read (hence my error)
My tenants always have accounts in their own names. Normally we agree the meter readings on check-in and check-out; on this occasion though the tenant didn't read the water meter* and she asked me just to let me know what it was (we had a very good relationship); which I did. Don't I regret that now!
She will have notified the water co herself, I haven't contacted them myself at all yet (was going to wait until the new tenants arrived before doing so). So the previous tenant will have paid a much lower bill than anticipated (may even have got a rebate I expect) but currently there's an unpaid bill of around £120.
So I'm toying with what to do now. My wife thinks it's my fault and I should just swallow the bill... although I could contact the old tenant and let her know - sorry! - and she may well agree gracefully. I could also just notify the water co of the correct retrospective reading dated 2 weeks ago (real reading hasn't changed in 2 weeks) so am sure she could easily be compelled to pay (whether she agrees or not).
So - I know it's not quite up there with some of the other crises posted on the forum, but am interested to hear how other landlords would handle this one!
*Because the meter is in the pavement, at the bottom of a dark, dirty hole and awkward to read (hence my error)
