Flat hardly occupied - Standing Charge

juno-eclipse

Hey guys,

I moved into my own flat last november from my parents house, my mam set up my electric for me which was a prepayment meter, she signed me up to E.On which is costing a fortune, the standing charge is 39p a day and im never actualy there as im mostly at my partners house. While i was there i was thinking of moving to EDF as there unit prices were a few pence less and there standing charge was only 19p a day, so should i move to them or is there a supplier with a even cheaper standing charge?

Thank you

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi,

All of E.ON’s prepayment tariffs have a daily standing charge.

If your supplier was E.ON when you moved in, this will be due to the previous account being with E.ON, you automatically take on the designated supplier when you move in or buy a property.

You would probably benefit from having the meter changed for a regular credit meter, although the meter change would cost you, as it’s classed as a non essential meter exchange.

The other issue is whoever you’re renting from may not agree with this change (it may be part of the tenancy agreement).

Using a comparison site to shop around for a company that doesn’t have a prepayment standing charge may be the better option, but again it may be the owner’s choice due to the TA.

Hope this helps.

Brian

Eagle15

Check EBICO - they don't have a standing charge.

Energyman_2

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Brian wrote: »

Hi,

All of E.ON’s prepayment tariffs have a daily standing charge

You would probably benefit from having the meter changed for a regular credit meter, although the meter change would cost you, as it’s classed as a non essential meter exchange.

The other issue is whoever you’re renting from may not agree with this change (it may be part of the tenancy agreement).

Check with landlord - I am a landlord and I was furious when a tenant changed to a pre-pay meter! I have changed my tenancy agreements so if it happens again the tenants loses their bond!

For some reason landlords like these meters!.......then complain when they haven't got a card and no gas is on when they need to do the CP12 inspections or check the boiler. All you need do landlords is inform the supplier of meter reads and dates of changes of tenancy and you wont get a bill (for their elec / gas) - SIMPLES!

If ok to change meter swop to SSE or EDF as they do not charge for changing pre-pay meters and it should be easy to organise a swop.

A regular meter would be far cheaper and more convenient for you.

Premier_2

Energyman wrote: »

Check with landlord - I am a landlord and I was furious when a tenant changed to a pre-pay meter! I have changed my tenancy agreements so if it happens again the tenants loses their bond!...

You can write what you like in your tenancy agreement but if the tenant knows the law, s/he'll see you in court to assert it. If the deposit was protected under a deposit protection scheme, then you won't be able to enforce the clause anyway.

The only liability of the tenant is to return the property to you in the same condition as it was originally let (fair wear & tear excepted).
If the tenant fails to give back the property in that condition, (e.g. with a different type of meter) you can make deductions for the cost you actually incur to put the property back into the condition it should have been returned in.

Not all suppliers will charge for a change of meter, but those that do don't charge anything like the equivalent of a month or 6 weeks rent - the typical amount of a bond.

Premier_2

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Brian wrote: »

....The other issue is whoever you’re renting from may not agree with this change (it may be part of the tenancy agreement).

... but again it may be the owner’s choice due to the TA.

If, as is typical and appears to be the case in this instance, the tenant is responsible for having the utility supplies put into their name and paying all charges, there's not much a LL can do to prevent a tenant changing supplier.

The tenant could always change the supplier back to the original before the tenancy ends if the LL is so adament that s/he wants a certain supplier.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Premier wrote: »

If, as is typical and appears to be the case in this instance, the tenant is responsible for having the utility supplies put into their name and paying all charges, there's not much a LL can do to prevent a tenant changing supplier.

The tenant could always change the supplier back to the original before the tenancy ends if the LL is so adament that s/he wants a certain supplier.

Hi Premier,

When I said the LL may dispute the change I meant the change in meter type not supplier.

Sorry for the confusion!

Brian

Energyman_2

Premier wrote: »

You can write what you like in your tenancy agreement but if the tenant knows the law, s/he'll see you in court to assert it. If the deposit was protected under a deposit protection scheme, then you won't be able to enforce the clause anyway.

The only liability of the tenant is to return the property to you in the same condition as it was originally let (fair wear & tear excepted).
If the tenant fails to give back the property in that condition, (e.g. with a different type of meter) you can make deductions for the cost you actually incur to put the property back into the condition it should have been returned in.

quote]

Not sure if lit will stand up in court or not - do you think a tenant would want to pursue this when they leave - I don't.

The local meter operators will give either a morning (0800-1300) or afternoon slot to change meter (1200-1800) - why should a landlord or letting agent wait around, at our expense, for an appointment when the tenant signed an agreement to say that they would not something in the first place. It was not in my first tenancy agreement -but it is in the others and I will continue to put it in for any more houses I rent out.

Vestra

Energyman wrote: »

Premier wrote: »

You can write what you like in your tenancy agreement but if the tenant knows the law, s/he'll see you in court to assert it. If the deposit was protected under a deposit protection scheme, then you won't be able to enforce the clause anyway.

The only liability of the tenant is to return the property to you in the same condition as it was originally let (fair wear & tear excepted).
If the tenant fails to give back the property in that condition, (e.g. with a different type of meter) you can make deductions for the cost you actually incur to put the property back into the condition it should have been returned in.

quote]

Not sure if lit will stand up in court or not - do you think a tenant would want to pursue this when they leave - I don't.

The local meter operators will give either a morning (0800-1300) or afternoon slot to change meter (1200-1800) - why should a landlord or letting agent wait around, at our expense, for an appointment when the tenant signed an agreement to say that they would not something in the first place. It was not in my first tenancy agreement -but it is in the others and I will continue to put it in for any more houses I rent out.

What would you do if the tenant was forced to have a ppm meter due to credit issues?

Energyman_2

Rian1988 wrote: »

Energyman wrote: »

What would you do if the tenant was forced to have a ppm meter due to credit issues?

I'll have to cross that bridge if and when it happens

however - if this was the case it is probable that the tenant would also owe rent, council tax etc as well! and may well be planning on doing a bunk.

If they can't afford gas / elec then they should not use it! Why should honest people who pay bills subsidise !!!!!!!!!!s.

Energyman_2

The !!!!!!!!!! word was free loaders. Don't know why it censored it? It wasn't me!