You should check your licence to occupy and you will note that you are only liable if negligent.
However, my MQ was gutted by fire a year ago and DHE raised a bill, copied all letters to OC Admin and DHE let it be known around the Stn that I was difficult to deal with. True, I had lost 80% of my possessions, my 8 month pregnant wife was in hospital and DHE hand delivered their bill!
After a lengthy battle they agreed that there was no negligence on my part and agreed to cancel the bill.
Bright as they are they then instructed debt collectors to get the money from me some 6 months later.
However, all is well that ends well. A senior DHE person reviewed my case and was pleased that she could write and inform me that her staff had acted correctly and gone out of their way to help.
Maybe I expected a slightly different service from DHE.....
