Pre-paid electric meter change

marc3

My wife has a buy to let property with 'normal' electricity supply chargeable to the tenants on account.

The tenants have acted on their own accord and applied to have meter changed to pre-paid.
We are not 'jumping up and down 'about it; but would prefer this not to occur.

Our tenants and the electrical company have both said that the tenants are allowed to do this; and that as the electicity account is in the tenants name; they can in effect 'make the rules' on this;without landlords specific permission

Is that correct ?

Blueshark911

It all depends as to what you had in your tenancy contract if this was mentioned at all. If not then the tennant would be within there rights to have the meter changed. On the plus side your wife will not be liable to any debts with the electricity company. In my experience most landlords prefer prepayment meters for this reason.

SwanJon

Some landlords prefer it this way as there are then no bills to worry about when the tenant changes.
Ultimately it is their money and unless you have a specific clause in the contract there's little you can do.