lady electricity con by landlord DESPERATE

problem123

I moved into a self contained flat in June this year. This is a house conversion that contains three self contained properties. Below me is an elderly couple who also live in a three bedroom property with garden and basement. Opposite me is a small bed-sit, one room plus shower.

There are two electricity meters for all three properties but I shall come back to this

I noticed after a duration in my new property that my electricity bills were increasingly expensive, eventually getting to the the point that I realised that something was not right.

As the meters are situated in the basement of the elderly couples flat I don’t have access to see the meters on a daily basis. EDF my provider periodically send out a representative to read meters which was last done on the 19th of November. To my horror, I received a bill stating I owed over £2000 for the previous five month period.

Being concerned by this I did a reading myself on the 23rd December. I then contacted EdF energy to give them this new reading and also asked them over the telephone to work out my usage between their last reading on the 19th Nov and mine. They told me that in this four week period I had used £348 worth of electricity.

I realised at this point that there was something very wrong here. After investigating the meters it has occurred that there are only two meters serving the three properties in this building. After consideration I came to the conclusion that I must be paying for electricity for one of my neighbours. I spoke to my landlord after the news on the 23rd December regarding my usage of electricity in a four week period. He suggested that it didn’t seem right but also at this stage told me that I was paying for electricity usage in the bed-sit opposite me something I had not been told and was certainly not aware of until now. He continually tried to play down the seriousness of the situation, i.e. the bed-sit tenants electricity consumption would be minimal etc.

I then queried this with my neighbour living in the bed-sit opposite me who confirmed that his tenancy and rent were inclusive of bills and therefore the rent he was paying to the landlord included bills. I asked him about his consumption and he told me that he has heating on at most times during the day and night. He also said that he had used the heating regularly in the summer months. He is also using an electric shower plus tv, pc etc. I am not at this point aware of anything else that he may be using that runs on electricity.

** BY THIS IT PROVES THAT THE LANDLORD KNEW WHEN I MOVED INTO THIS PROPERTY THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE ELECTRICITY FOR BOTH MY FLAT AND THE BEDSIT OPPOSITE.

Edf energy has threatened me with a meter as they said that the bill is in my name and I am the one liable to pay. They have said that my issues are third party disputes. On the 23rd December they agreed to put my account on hold for 14 days.


what i want is this:

a to stay in my home. I spent considerable money decorating and making it a home for me and my daughter

b: not have to pay the ridiculous bill thats outstanding


c: for me and my neihbgor to have seperate readings in the future

is there any way considering the underhand nature of my landlord for this to happen

what can i do in the meantime to prevent bills escalating?

PLEASE RESPOND EVERYONE I AM DESPERATE

Fred1_2

The only thing that I can suggest is that you speak to your Citizen's Advice Bureau, Shelter and the Private Tenancy department of your local council. You need professional advice on this. However, you need to get prepared to move - this landlord sounds entirely untrustworthy and if you don't move voluntarily, I suspect that he may evict you after your fixed term is over anyway.

TTMCMschine

That is a very devious thing he has done. I wonder whether he'd be prepared to pay for someone else's bill?

maninthestreet

Ask you landlord to contribute to paying your electricity bill - he's receiving money from the bed-sit tenant for this, so he should contribute to paying the bill.

poppysarah

CAB.

You could live without using ANY electric for a week and work out how much the bedsit uses.

(Utterly impractical I know)

Is it legal to be sharing meters like that? Does it imply building regs not complied with?

problem123

thanks for your replies!! I am awaiting an appointment at citizens advice bureau. what can i do in the meantime so that edf allow me more time as i am concerned they will put a meter in and i will end up having to feed it hundreds a pounds a month (which i simply do not have) to use my everday elecrtical items,

poppysarah

You need a separate meter and then to pay retrospectively for what they know you've used.

In theory the bedsit meter + your meter should = previous shared meter.
BUT you can bet the bedsit guy will tone down his use if he knows they'll average it.

icefall

Try emailing top brass at EDF

Rick62

I don't know the law on this, but, first the energy supplier is at fault, if the two properties are legally seperate do they not have any duty, in particular if they cannot clearly identify your usage then can they enforce payment?

You landlord is at fault, he is guilt of fraud, but not sure if that fraud is versus you or the energy supplier (may depend on first question above).

Personally I would not pay the existing bill, stating clearly in writing that I would pay once they can identify your usuage clearly itemised. I would be willing to compromise and pay a far estimate (based on typical usage for size of property, number occupants etc). Going forward I would demand a new meter that is just for the property I was in, I don't know why are saying about feeding it hundereds a month, are they demanding a cash meter?

Soot2006

What a con!

Seems like this is going to end up in court one way or another, so maybe best accept that moving out will be an option at some point.

I would agree to EDF's threat - let them come and install a prepayment meter! .... And when they arrive and find out you have no access to top up the meter, they might be a little more interested in asking questions!

problem123

yes edf were referring to a cash pre-payment meter that would be set to pay the existing debt of £2000+ off plus take money for existing/current usage.

I will prepare a letter for edf and landlord, but i think it is clear i need legal advice asap. thank you