One of my family informs me they have been renting a flat for 3 years off the same guy, signed relevant paperwork initially etc, but have no contact address for him, only a mobile number. Now they want to vacate the flat, its a problem because the landlord has ignored all phone calls/tel messages theyve been sending for the last month. T hey dont have access apparently to the meters, so cant get them read on the last day. Does it happen often that landlords dont provide a full address?

It doesn't happen often, but has happened to a friend of mine. I don't know what to suggest about the Meters. Perhaps your friends could ask the gas company for a final reading based on their useage and take that as the final one?

Write to the Landlord at the last address they have for him stating their intention to vacate and the Meter readings that they have (actually guessed at) taken. It is then up to him to either agree, disagree, or agree by saying nothing.

Ary.

The original contact address should be on the lease paperwork. If there isn't one, then it's not valid anyway. Leave a letter behind in that case, and take photographs of the vacant property as proof that it was left in decent condition.

If the meter reading tallies with the Gas / Electricity board readings, and your family member has moved without managing to get an answer form the Landlord, then that's as much as they can do and he should not be able to chase them for money for bills wracked up after the date they have officially moved out.

ps. If it's only been a month, might he just have gone away on holiday?

Ary.

If you pay your rent through the bank you could try writing to them via the branch. Might work, might not.

On the Tenancy/Landlord Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement the Landlord has to provide a contact address otherwise the contract is not valid.
Note though the above Agreement is only valid for up to 3 years under the Housing Act of 1996 and any longer than 3 years Tenancy Agreements have to be drawn up by Deed.

If the the l/lord has not provided an address, then the tenants have a right to withold rent. The l/lord should make contact pretty quickly then!!

How do the electricity board read the meters? If the landlord is that uncontactable I can't see him trolling over every quarter to wait for the meter reader! There must be a key held by the utilities so if they ask for someone to come to do the final readings there shouldn't be a problem.

Actually, at work today this subject came up as someone was being denied the key to the cupboard where her stopcock and water meter are housed. The concencous was that you can actually buy a "universal key" that fits utility cupboards.

love

TillyBob

Yup I got a key from my gas supplier , just call them up it's a universal plastic one (mine's yellow). a bit like those keys that bleed radiators??
however, I thought that both gas & elec suppliers can get access themselves & physically coming to the property to get the readings? Or perhaps they prefer not to & rather rely on customers. Maybe tell them your worries and they might come out so that they know they've got a true reading.

Re photos of the condition of the flat when you leave it, I strongly reccommend too, & you can't have too many, from a distance & close up. Anything that might look bad from far yet from close isn't, take close up pics. If you can get a third party to verify how you leave it then do so, I've heard some nasty stories of vindictive people, rather be safe than sorry. If he turns out to just be laid back about you leaving, then so what if you've got all the pics that you won't need. You can use them as coasters ;p

Thanks everyone, some excellent advice there. Ive passed it all on and added a bit about sending the letter to the last address by recorded delivery. Hopefully it will turn out ok.

i've lived in 4 different flats and only had the address of one of my landlords, i wish i'd know they were supposed to give their addresses.

One of my landlords was terrible, he wouldn't fix anything, he would never answer my calls he didn't even notice that i stopped paying rent 4 weeks before i moved out and i didn't text him to tell him i'd left until 4 weeks after that!