Hi,
I have a dispute with my letting agency and need some guidance. I’m based in England.
I signed onto a flat with a housemate at the back end of last year. His previous housemate was leaving, so I joined when he was renewing the contract.
The contract contained multiple changes, one of which was the addition of a clause that states:
“It is understood by all Parties to this Agreement that any clauses contained in the Special Tenancy Conditions,
Section 6.0, supersede any terms within the main body of this Tenancy Agreement.
Additional Clause(s):
• Water is included in the rent.
• The Inventory referred to herein relates to the document entitled ‘Inventory & Schedule of Condition’ signed by at least one or more of the tenant(s) named herein and dated 07/01/2025.”
My housemate paid it prior, but he thought it was a new clause they were adding amongst rent increases and the new contract being put together. The date in the clause after the water bill is the date he moved in last year, so it was added in between the present additional clauses.
In January I spoke to Yorkshire water, and they sorted the water bill out according to the tenancy agreement.
On Tuesday the 21st of April, Yorkshire water sent a bill to my letting agency, and they sent it to us, claiming that they did not believe the tenancy agreement was valid, and that they want to defer to the old agreement my housemate was under. They have refused to pay this bill, and are attempting to railroad me into signing a new agreement.
I’ve spoken to citizens advice and they have told me to stand my ground.
I initially offered to sign a new agreement, on the condition that my letting agency meets the terms of the current one they disagree with for the period of January-April. This offer has been refused as they do not wish to take responsibility for this bill.
What are my options here?