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Unpaid water bills

Posted: Thu Jun 3, 2021 10:29am
8 replies207 views3 members subscribed
Lang007

Posts: 10

Joined: 19 May 2021

Dear all. One in our network has just started a rental. It turns out the owner has unpaid water bills for almost 10 000 (!) euros. They do not have nie yet. They have paid the bills for the last months that are not theirs. However, these hugs bills are something they just learned about and the owner has now been informed the water will be turned off. This will happen before we get our nies. My question is; is it anything they can do? Since they have paid the last bills even, maybe they won’t turn it off? They are in no situation to pay the owners huge water bills from 2019. Any help is much appreciated, thanks. 

Ps i am asking as in other EU countries you are not allowed to turn off electricity or water when it can be proven the consumption /bills are not the current resider’s.

Kimmy11

Posted: Fri Jun 4, 2021 3:42pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Jun 4, 2021 3:42pm

Hi Lang007,

In Spain, outstanding debts on a property remain with the property.  The lawyer who acted for the new owners should have ensured that there were no bills outstanding before completing the purchase, as the amount could have been retained from the purchase funds until the previous owner confirmed payment.

Kind regards,

Kim

Lang007

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:51am

Lang007

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Joined: 19 May 2021

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:51am

Kimmy11 wrote on Fri Jun 4, 2021 3:42pm:

Hi Lang007,

In Spain, outstanding debts on a property remain with the property.  The lawyer who acted for the new owners should have ensured that there were no bills outstanding before completing the purchase, as the amount could have been retained from the purchase funds until the previous owner confir...

...med payment.

Kind regards,

Kim

Thanks, Kris. They have not bought the property, they are renting it. Xx

Kimmy11

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:13am

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:13am

Lang007 wrote on Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:51am:

Thanks, Kris. They have not bought the property, they are renting it. Xx

Did they rent direct from the owner, or through an agent, and do they have a signed contract?  If the latter, they should ask the agent to find alternative accommodation for them - the property is not fit for renting with the threat that the water supply will be shut off.  If the former, they should take their contract to the water supplier to prove they are not responsible for the previous usage, although that may not be sufficient to prevent the supply being stopped.

It would take many years to run up a €10,000 bill (unless there is an unattended water leak) and the owner must know he hasn't paid his water bills.

Good luck!

Kim

Crissy58

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:19pm

Posts: 51

7 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 5 Jun 2021

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:19pm

Lang007 wrote on Thu Jun 3, 2021 10:29am:

Dear all. One in our network has just started a rental. It turns out the owner has unpaid water bills for almost 10 000 (!) euros. They do not have nie yet. They have paid the bills for the last months that are not theirs. However, these hugs bills are something they just learned about and the ow...

...ner has now been informed the water will be turned off. This will happen before we get our nies. My question is; is it anything they can do? Since they have paid the last bills even, maybe they won’t turn it off? They are in no situation to pay the owners huge water bills from 2019. Any help is much appreciated, thanks. 

Ps i am asking as in other EU countries you are not allowed to turn off electricity or water when it can be proven the consumption /bills are not the current resider’s.

I would suggest you first go to the water company and explain, with paid invoices in hand. If without success, go to a lawyer. 

Having no nie doesnt help... 

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Lang007

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:39am

Lang007

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Joined: 19 May 2021

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:39am

Kimmy11 wrote on Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:13am:

Did they rent direct from the owner, or through an agent, and do they have a signed contract?  If the latter, they should ask the agent to find alternative accommodation for them - the property is not fit for renting with the threat that the water supply will be shut off.  If the former...

..., they should take their contract to the water supplier to prove they are not responsible for the previous usage, although that may not be sufficient to prevent the supply being stopped.

It would take many years to run up a €10,000 bill (unless there is an unattended water leak) and the owner must know he hasn't paid his water bills.

Good luck!

Kim

Thank you.

Lang007

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:46am

Lang007

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Joined: 19 May 2021

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:46am

Crissy58 wrote on Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:19pm:

I would suggest you first go to the water company and explain, with paid invoices in hand. If without success, go to a lawyer. 

Having no nie doesnt help... 

Thank you, they rent via a private owner from the same country as themselves hence no nie needed to write the contract. Due to covid and closed embassy they where not able to obtain a nie before they came. It turned out the bills where due to several water leaks the owner did not inform about. Although the water has not been turned off it is true it could be turned off any time. Thanks to all for replies.

Crissy58

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:01pm

Posts: 51

7 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 5 Jun 2021

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:01pm

Lang007 wrote on Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:46am:

Thank you, they rent via a private owner from the same country as themselves hence no nie needed to write the contract. Due to covid and closed embassy they where not able to obtain a nie before they came. It turned out the bills where due to several water leaks the owner did not inform about. Al...

...though the water has not been turned off it is true it could be turned off any time. Thanks to all for replies.

With more explanations it is clearer now. Better then. 

Lang007

Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 5:58pm

Lang007

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Joined: 19 May 2021

Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 5:58pm

Crissy58 wrote on Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:01pm:

With more explanations it is clearer now. Better then. 

;) they are afarid that the landlord will read this, recognise they talk about him and then get in Even more trouble, 

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