Utillties in rented flat

loulou41

I am writing this on behalf of daughter, she is so stressed by all these. It's now three weeks she has moved in her flat and she has to chase EA to do things. E.G, when she signed the contract on the 16th August, she was told the windows will be painted on the 18th and still they have not been done. Also, the work men have accessed to the flat during her absence to do things.

She does not know what utilities the previous tenants were using. She asked EA about these and she was told they will inform the relevant companies. She has not heard anything from any of them and when she asked EA again aboout electricity & Gas, EA told her he does not know. How can she find out what companies previous tenants were using, is there a way to do it? She has sent a letter from EON to previous tenants as EA told her to return to sender. Should she just wait and see what happens or try to contact the council and water board? Will contact EON a good start, she is so busy at work and she does not have time to sort these herself. Will be grateful for some advice. EA was quick to take her money but very slow to put things right in the flat. She is paying £900 rent for a service she is not getting. Thanks

sooz

loulou41 wrote: »

I am writing this on behalf of daughter, she is so stressed by all these. It's now three weeks she has moved in her flat and she has to chase EA to do things. E.G, when she signed the contract on the 16th August, she was told the windows will be painted on the 18th and still they have not been done. Also, the work men have accessed to the flat during her absence to do things. Write to the EA, don't call them. She wants to have proof & a copy of her requests. At the same time, she should remind them that they cannot access without her consent, & must give 24 hours notice in writing for access.

She does not know what utilities the previous tenants were using. She asked EA about these and she was told they will inform the relevant companies. She has not heard anything from any of them and when she asked EA again aboout electricity & Gas, EA told her he does not know. How can she find out what companies previous tenants were using, is there a way to do it? She has sent a letter from EON to previous tenants as EA told her to return to sender. Should she just wait and see what happens or try to contact the council and water board? Will contact EON a good start, she is so busy at work and she does not have time to sort these herself.
Firstly, she should read the meters, if she has not done so already, & record them somewhere safe. At the same time she should note the meter point access numbers. Then call a number which will tell her who her suppliers are (can't remember the name or number at this time of night, but any utility supplier will know it - since she's seen a letter from EON, I'd suggest calling them first) Water will always only be supplied by the local water board, so that's simple enough. At the same time she should call the council & let them know what date she moved in.

Will be grateful for some advice. EA was quick to take her money but very slow to put things right in the flat. She is paying £900 rent for a service she is not getting. Thanks

Nonsense - she is living in the flat. That is what the bulk of her rent covers! Anyway, everyone knows that most EA's are useless - so the 'service' element is minimal -& the only thing you've mentioned which needs putting right is painting the windows, which is not an urgent problem (although I don't agree with the workmen coming in without proper notice)

edit - found it:

Look for the unique 8 or nine digit serial no. on each meter. For electricity, she should call a local distributor. Look at www.energywatch.co.uk for the phone no.

For gas, call the transporter, on 0870 608 1524

tbs624

The LA should provide the information on utility suppliers.

For any tenant (or Owner Occupier) who moves into a property without having been told who the suppliers are, see here http://www.enaconsulting.org/


And on the subject of LAs who don't do what they are supposed to do , see here : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1136079

sooz

tbs624 wrote: »

The LA should provide the information on utility suppliers.

Yes - they should. But it's not as if she doesn't have the ability to find this herself easily.

She has the previous tenants forwarding address - so could ask them
She has seen a bill from EON & forwarded it
She (presumably) has access to her meters & can read them, along with the serial numbers
Utility companies are mostly open til 9pm at night on weekdays, & do work weekends too.
Council tax can be contacted online - & if she wants a 25% single discount this needs to be done in writing. Usually it's [EMAIL="revenues@insert"]revenues@insert[/EMAIL]council.gov.uk
Water can also be registered online.

tbs624

I agree with you Sooz that Tenants can usually manage to find the necessary info out eventually (esp using the links that both you and I have provided) but as the replies are read by others, it may trigger a "must ask that one before I sign" moment;)

It's sooo straightforward for a LL to leave a folder in every property with this info, along with "idiot proof" instructions for heating systems and appliances etc. (Before I get flamed, that is not saying that tenants are idiots, more that sometimes manufacturer/installer instructions are in dire need of translation into standard English)

I particularly think when tenants are being fleeced by LAs for quite hefty "admin fees", the very least that they could do is provide basic info like this