Sub Meter Electric

lemontart

spiro wrote: »

To replace a sub-meter with a 'billing meter' you would need to get the distributor to install a new supply and then get a supplier to fit a meter. This is likely to be expensive or very expensive.

what I am looking into doing is splitting house into two with prepaid submeter for 1 part leaving bill in my part, also interested about water meters - not able to locate anything on that at mo. I know at around 3/4 years ago you could isolate ring circut, get a new cu put in then the electrician could install a submeter, but laws constantly changing so not sure where that stands now - if still the same would a supplier install a pre paid meter to be paid direct so to say?

Terrylw1

If you split he property you should really apply for a new supply via the distributor, which can be any distributor now, not the old host one...competition rules finally caught up with this in an industry change called P62 about 7 years ago.

This would mean a new mpan hence the properties are classed separately. Its also the most convenient for future buyers as there would be no issues over third party dispute with tenants since one supply to 2 properties means one liable party.

This is costly so some landlords go the submeter route instead hence your sparky does all the work to connect to your meter but has to ensure there will be no load Max issues such as exceeding the amp of your meter or distributor cut out fuses. This might be an issue as modern meters are usually installed with 80-100 amp fuses with cut out fuses to match. Old meters can be much lower which may mean upgrades are needed. Upgrading the meter would be easy and should be free, but the distributor I'm less sure about with you splitting houses, if they didnt know about that I suspect they would upgrade it free.

There are lots of mixed supply shop+flats out there set up like this. As long as they are correctly submetered, they can work.

One question though. Are you going to be paying omesyic rates? If so, submetering will be fine. Landlord accounts on domestic premises inbetween tenancies get billed as the tenants did (someone correct me on this if this is incorrect, its just what i see...but it wouldnt surprise me if it wasnt correct) but if you are profit making on a permanent basis for the rent, they may want you on a commercial rate. So this part will be crucial before doing anything since commercials are subject to higher rates, lock in contracts with Deemed higher rates once they expire and higher rate tax once using more than the De Minimus rule, CCL, etc.

lemontart

domestic rate, ideally would like tenant to pay their own so will have to look more into both options, defo not looking to profit,

Terrylw1

If you want them to pay direct it will need a new supply jointing so they get their own mpan.

The point on profit is just thst landlords get away with domestic rates I between tenancies on domestics because they wouldn't be earning, and some of the utilities trade completely seperately between domestic and business so would have to keep changing supplier back and forth. If you submetered, there could be a case for permanent business rates so its worth checking with perhaps your account as I'm not sure on that one.

New suppliers can take a while though. To initiate it, contact the distributor you wish to use wehicu can get anyone now but chances are its still a monopoly by the old local one. They will initiate a project, send a planning engineer out, prep a quote and then once you pay they will schedule it. As part of this they arrange your mpan and you contact your supplier of choice asking for a new connection registration and meter fitting. They cant fit the meter until the work is all completed, there is an mpan and you have a contractors completion certificate to cover any works by your sparky.

boo-hoo

Would really appreciate constructive advise regarding Sub Meters.
We rent a shop and have been paying our electricity bills. Had a Smart Meter fitted last week and this was fitted on a completely different meter to the one we've been reading.
Turns out we have been reading our meter but now this smart meter is fitted we are now paying for the Basement and 1st floor flats electric too. Turns out we weren't told the building is sub metered. Problem is the Basement has never paid any bills and has been there 2 months longer than us. Now we are liable for her bill and arrears as old meter was obviously higher reading and she's is avoiding us. Any ideas how to legally demand money or as last resort can we have her supply disconnected as we are paying for her electric and really can't afford to. She is around all day and we only open 3 mornings a week. Thanks

Bambi89

Hi everyone,

I'm in desperate need of some help and advice!

I've been renting a property now since April 2014.

The property was once part of 3 others - Main 4 bed house with an office attached (now 1 bed flat) then a "barn" attached to that (now a 2 bed house that I rent) and then an annex (now a "studio").

The guy renting the studio moved in the same day I did. This is the only property not attached to the other 3.

My property (2 bed house/converted "barn") is electric only and has storage heaters. I'm with EON.

All electricity meters are inside the main 4 bed house (which is also rented out).

My monthly payments to EON are £125.00 (to cover any extra usage... Or so I thought!)

After so many months/nearly a year with one letting agency, the landlord swapped to using another. The only way this effected me was who I paid my rent to.

One day, I contacted the agency for a meter reading (day/night/total). When I gave the info to EON to find out the current status of my bill, I was shocked to find that the account was in arrears by £840!!!

I raised concern with the letting agency who were also baffled! After a few days, the guy looking into the issue found the problem.. I've been paying for the electricity supply to the annex too!!

Turns out, the annex is on a sub meter that the landlord had fitted to my meter!
I was never informed of this and it isn't in either of our contracts! When the meter readings were being supplied by both letting agencies, neither one advised me of this and only ever gave me readings for the main meter!!
I only found out about the sub meter in May 2015, over a year after moving in!!

EON were not aware of a sub meter either!

After research, it seems that, if this is how the landlord wants the properties set up (obviously so as not to incur a large cost himself by getting a separate meter fitted for the annex) then the main bill that is in my name, that I pay, SHOULD be going to him, so that he can split it and advise us both as to what we owe?
However! When telling him this, he has refused to go this route, advising that it isn't visable due to him living 90miles away!!

This now means that, I have to pay a monthly cost of £125.00, covering my bill and then annex, then every 3months, work out what the annex has used, confirm that cost with the agency so they can invoice the other tenant for them to then take their payment to the agency so that they can they pass onto me!! (Please, someone tell me this is as wrong as I believe it to be!)

Going back to the £840 arrears... After asking the landlord to move the account to his name and him refusing, his recovery was to ensure me that, if the tenant of the annex ever "did a bunk" that he would personally cover the cost himself. The tenant paid £400 and one months usage (45 days worth to be exact)... Then did a bunk! He left the place in a mess. The landlord assured me (and the agency!!) that, the deposit money from the other tenant would come to me as priority to cover the remaining arrears (I don't think he actually listened to how much was still outstanding!) after being told the costs of repair for the annex, he's now stating he doesn't believe it to be "his problem" to pay the arrears!!

Please, please, someone help!! :eek: :eek:

Cardew

Bambi89 wrote: »

Please, please, someone help!! :eek: :eek:

Please don't post identical information in separate threads; it just causes confusion.


Bambi89 has started a thread here:


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5309183

Bambi89

Very new to the forums (in fact as of tonight!) and didn't know how to start a thread, hence posting on here and then realising I could start my own. Apologies to anyone I've confused!