Mysterious Free Gas Supply to rented property - any suggestions?

Ted_Bloke

I refurbished a flat about ten years ago and let it. For two or three years of that time my son lived there till about 3 years ago. I can’t remember whether the utility contracts were in his name or mine, basically I paid all the bills. Then it was let again.

Not being there much myself I did not pay much attention to the utilities, but it did strike me occasionally that we never seemed to receive any gas bills. A couple of times the company Transco that runs the gas network but is not the gas supplier wrote to me to say they need to inspect/disconnect the property as it was not receiving any gas and I wrote back to say it is receiving gas and is connected. They did not seem to know about any meters, which there are (external). (I also own the other flat in the house.)

I also phoned them once to ask who were the gas customers there and they told me the name – it was company that refurbished the whole property 10 yr ago. They asked would I like them to chase it up and look into the situation – I said no please don’t go to such trouble for me! :cheesy: At start of a tenancy the letting agency is supposed to change the utility contract into the name of the new tenant - and back again when they leave. The letting agency is a big reputable London one. I.e. staffed by Australian etc. temps who last a year or two at a time, and they have been known to do things like e.g. confuse and switch elec. supply contracts between my two flats IYKWIM.

So now the tenancy is due to end shortly and I will take the flat back and maybe move in. I just would not like to get a bill for gas supply for the last 3 years’, or the last 5 or 10 years’ gas supply. The gas has always arrived. Knowing the old refurbishment company I rather doubt they would be have been paying anything unnecessary, but they too are now absorbed into a big company that may not be so efficient.

I don’t know what is owed a utility supply company that never sends a bill. I guess I need before tenants leave have the agency guarantee me they have paid bill for last three years (but for reasons above and experience I hae me doots) or be sure that they do so before leaving – I will surely never get anything back later. That would I suppose cover a large fraction of what I might be due for.

I guess that is what I must do, but I though I would ask what actually is my situation and liability and how best handle?

lil'H

My friend had this on a new build, didn't pay a bill for 5 years, only realised when he was moving out and renting the property out. The new tennants rang up any gas company, arranged an account from that date and no one has ever chased for period before.

No idea how or why it happened or what you should do though!

Robert_Sterling_3

You have had a long time to consider the position.
I think you might not have to pay the bills that are more than six years old.

tbs624

You may find it helpful to look at the Code of Practice for Accurate Bills (the “Billing Code”) which was launched in July 2006.
Five of the main energy supply companies in the UK are signed up to the Billing Code: British Gas, npower, EDF Energy, E.ON Powergen and Scottish Power

The Code requires consumers to be protected from debt where the supplier is at fault for not billing energy supply - "where the supplier is at fault, consumers cannot be back-billed beyond 12 months from the date on any subsequent bill."
See here for further info.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I lived for a while in a flat which was part of a house converted into three separate flats. For the entire time we lived there we received a quarterly gas bill with the correct name and address, but just saying our account was £10 or something in credit- not a proper bill. By the time we got near to moving out I knew I had to get this sorted so had a proper look at the meters outside the property and cross-referenced them with the details on the letter. It turned out they had got the meters all completely confused on their billing. As the check in agent had obtained a reading for us on the day we moved in, I was able to give them (EDF) a correct reading for the entire length of time we'd lived there. However I was told they could only backdate charges for 12 months, so we got a lot of free heat and hot water for their mistake.

Pssst

I expect there are lots of people getting free gas and electric now. Its another symptom of the de-regulated and totally messed up energy system in this country. Your gas transporter eg National Grid or other,is required to cut off your gas service (main) if gas is not used or a supplier is not registered to an address. They will normally do this after 12 months or so. It appears they made enquiries but this hasnt happened. Either way,there must surely be a meter there? Have you found it?

mlz1413

I've also heard of this with new builds so guess any new supply could be the same.

You say the flat was rented so I'm assuming as part of the sign in / out procedure meter readings were taken and signed for, if you still the have these details then they can be supplied to the utility company as proof of who owes what.

I would certainly make sure you get the current tenants to sign a final reading and then you can ensure you only pay from that reading onwards when you move in.

Ted_Bloke

Pssst wrote: »

I expect there are lots of people getting free gas and electric now. Its another symptom of the de-regulated and totally messed up energy system in this country. Your gas transporter eg National Grid or other,is required to cut off your gas service (main) if gas is not used or a supplier is not registered to an address. They will normally do this after 12 months or so. It appears they made enquiries but this hasnt happened. Either way,there must surely be a meter there? Have you found it?

Yes, there are meters external to both flats and obvious - anyone would have only to come in the gate but not house to read them.

PasturesNew

I worked for a company that had no electricity bill for years. But they were aware of it and each year they set aside some money for when it came through. Then the guy wanted to sell the business, so had to finally sort out what had been going on. No idea what happened as I was made redundant.

Pssst

Ted_Bloke wrote: »

Yes, there are meters external to both flats and obvious - anyone would have only to come in the gate but not house to read them.

If there are meters and they are legit meters then National Grid arent interested. The meters will have related MPRN numbers for each property. I suppose in the end, the registered proprietor (i.e legal owner) of the property could be held liable or whoever the gas supply is written up to. Surely there must be shippers (suppliers) attached to the meters as a shipperless site is not normally aloowed to exisit? Further to that,if the meters get read then why no disconnection notice for non payment?

Maybe the meters are not legit?

Ted_Bloke

Pssst wrote: »

If there are meters and they are legit meters then National Grid arent interested. The meters will have related MPRN numbers for each property. I suppose in the end, the registered proprietor (i.e legal owner) of the property could be held liable or whoever the gas supply is written up to. Surely there must be shippers (suppliers) attached to the meters as a shipperless site is not normally aloowed to exisit? Further to that,if the meters get read then why no disconnection notice for non payment?

Maybe the meters are not legit?

No reason to think that, they came with the refurbishment 10 yrs ago. The one to the other flat in the house generates regular bills and consequent payments to British Gas. I set up contract when I took this over from tenants about 3 yrs ago and there was nothing overhanging that came out. (I am paying it now by agreement).

OK I think it is clear what to do now. I am not on the spot myself, that is why I don't just drop round and ask the tenants but rather work thro' the agency, with whom I have raised the question in the past but everything ends in vague non-follow up.