Run away flatmate

[scottym112]

I came home one day to discover my weird flatmate in our rented accommodation had gone. After this I discovered he hadn't paid a penny for bills all year. Now I have to have to pay for all his arrears in council tax, electricity, gas etc. Around �700 in total.

The utility companies don't care , it's a private matter for them. Im struggling enough as it is without his bills. Any ideas for what I should do? can i get the money off him some how?

[ummmm]

Who's name are the bills in?

[karlbowder]

Dont despair, would you know if he had assets? such as a car etc. If he has engage a solicitor/debt collector who can recover thes assets, but check out the their fees.

[scottym112]

They were in his name and my name.

[ummmm]

As in joint names?

Or were some in his and others in yours?

[4getmenot]

if they were in both names as one bill how come you only know now that he hasnt paid them?

[scottym112]

Both our names were on the council tax bill. I paid my share of it every month by standing order, he said he was doing the same but he wasn't.

And for our electric, both our names were on the bill. we got hit with a massive �1K bill cos he insisted on using elec heaters in his room all winter, a month after the bill, he ups sticks, leaving me to deal with it all.

All i know of his whereabouts is his new flatmates car registration plate.

[Whoever]

I believe there may be a way of tracing the owner of a car 's registration number through the DVLA if you can provde a genuine need to know. (although I think there may be a fee payable for this). I'm not sure how you go about it (try asking under the Motoring section here) but in my book, tracking down a fraudster by means of letting his innocent flatmat know that he's just about the suffer the same bitter experience represents a genuine "Need to know" in my book.
Where did your flatmat work? Sure you didn't share a flat with him for such a long time and not even knlow this information? if you didn't, weren't you a little bit niaive?
You could always try advertising for his whereabouts in your local paper or hiring a detective to track him down but this will only you you more money without guaranteeing results. Looks like you're sadly going to have to cough up the entire sum and be a lot less trusting in future about the way you do business with flatmates.

[Twenty20]

Ask your landlord for your flat mates forwarding address.

[scottym112]

I asked the letting agents, they are chasing him too for 3 months rent. Landlord tried to get in touch with his guarantor, ends up he forged his guarantor's signature.
He was unemployed in the last few months.

Total nightmare, but yeah, i know i will have to cough up. even if i caught the guy, he has no money. would have to bring him to small claims court or something.

thanks for the tips anyway.