distraut elderley friend in need

Hi
I have been trawling the internet, trying to find information that may help an elderly lady that I know, who is currently in the process of court proceedings for the division of finances. She has no family or friends and is very distressed, so I am always on the lookout for any information that may help her.
Her husband left her, he is now in sheltered accommodation. She is now moving out of her house, also into sheltered accommodation.
The key to the property is being handed over to the solicitor and the court case is due to divide the finances.
The thing that is now mainly worrying her is that her solicitor has told her that when she moves out she must still keep on all her utilities (gas, water, phone, electric).
She is panicking because she says that she can't afford bills at 2 properties, and her husband doesn't pay anything towards the house. She has paid for all the bills since he left.
She has a few savings left, but they are dwindling with all the solicitors costs and now she will also be paying rent at her new home.(they're marital home was paid for).
I was wondering if there is anyone out there who can tell me if she must keep on with the utilities when she moves out, and why she cannot have them disconnected? It seems unfair and wrong to make her pay bills for an empty property, when she has moved out.
This doesn't seem right to me. She is frightened of her solicitor and doesn't want to upset him by questioning him over this, when it is so close to her court case, as he has already told her if she is unhappy with him, she can go and collect her paperwork.
I have told her that she should just send in the readings and have them disconnected, because she cannot long term afford to pay them.
Now I am worrying in case I have done anything to make matters worse for her. Can anybody please advise me on this?

advisor1 wrote:

Hi
I have been trawling the internet, trying to find information that may help an elderly lady that I know, who is currently in the process of court proceedings for the division of finances. She has no family or friends and is very distressed, so I am always on the lookout for any information that may help her.
Her husband left her, he is now in sheltered accommodation. She is now moving out of her house, also into sheltered accommodation.
The key to the property is being handed over to the solicitor and the court case is due to divide the finances.
The thing that is now mainly worrying her is that her solicitor has told her that when she moves out she must still keep on all her utilities (gas, water, phone, electric).
She is panicking because she says that she can't afford bills at 2 properties, and her husband doesn't pay anything towards the house. She has paid for all the bills since he left.
She has a few savings left, but they are dwindling with all the solicitors costs and now she will also be paying rent at her new home.(they're marital home was paid for).
I was wondering if there is anyone out there who can tell me if she must keep on with the utilities when she moves out, and why she cannot have them disconnected? It seems unfair and wrong to make her pay bills for an empty property, when she has moved out.
This doesn't seem right to me. She is frightened of her solicitor and doesn't want to upset him by questioning him over this, when it is so close to her court case, as he has already told her if she is unhappy with him, she can go and collect her paperwork.
I have told her that she should just send in the readings and have them disconnected, because she cannot long term afford to pay them.
Now I am worrying in case I have done anything to make matters worse for her. Can anybody please advise me on this?

Get on to Age Concern - they will be able to help her.

www.ageconcern.org.uk/

At the very least they will provide more support but I am sure they will be able to give advice.

I'm no expert but don't see why she can't get the utilities disconnected. Is the solicitor just saying this so that it easier to sell the property? Suggest that she (or someone on her behalf- she may need to give her permission) speaks to each of the utilty companies to see what her options are. She can definately disconnect the phone.

Hope this helps a bit.

Janey

If there is no one going to be living there. then surely there would be no bill charges!! - Only the telephone line rental i would assume - Cancel that defo!!

You dont need the gas on - perhaps electricity to turn the lights on if anyone viewing property when its dark!

I had all my power disconected when my home was up for sale & lived at another property!!

Dont know if she pays council tax but I think some councils you dont pay if the property is vacated and up for sale too..

Ask Citizens Advice for further info.. Its her home after all, if she no longer wants to pay the bills.

Angel 1

Ok there are two things which might help and the first one of which is the house insurance company. AS the property is to be left empty for more than 30 days (usual clause in a policy) then the insurance company have to be notified.

If you explain the circumstances to them regarding why the property is to be empty they will usually (or we used to do when I worked in insurance) still cover it BUT they will insist that all utilities are disconnected for obvious reasons. This will then get round the problem of the solicitor being difficult as the decision was not your elderly friends but the insurance company.

The other one is that you should contact Age Concern who will be able to offer advice and help on what else to do.

T

Thnkyou for this. Luckily the solicitor has now sent a letter stating that she can disconnect the utilities, But it is a helpful thing to know about the insurance companies policy.
Also I have recommended age concern to her.
Thanks for your help.

Thankyou,for this. She has now had everything disconnected as the solicitor has changed his mind.
Also she will be able to contact the council about the council tax as I think you are correct about not paying if the property is empty. Thanks for your help.