Electricity & Water invoice from estate agents

Futura_Bold

Hi,

I thought I'd post here first before sending off any money....hopefully someone can help.

I've just received a letter, with invoices for electric & water from the estate agents, and, since it's my first time renting, I'm not sure if it's all okay or I'm getting a rough deal.

I moved into a studio flat on my own at the beginning of March this year. The flat is in a block of about 20 other flats (studios, 1 beds 2 beds) and we are all the first tenants. Now, six months later the first utility bills have arrived.

The letter:

"We have enclosed with this letter an invoice for the electricity and water account for the above property. The electricity bill has been calculated from the meter reading which was taken when you moved in . . . Based on the tariff rates supplied to us from E-on of 14p per unit we have now calculated your electricity demand. Please note no standing charge has been administered.
Please send a cheque to cover the amount of both bills in the enclosed envelope."

The 2 invoices:

Electricity account for the period 2 March 2009 – 3 July 2009 = £153.12

Water rates for the period 2 March 2009 – 3 July 2009 = £153.12

There wasn't any more detail than that, no breakdown of costs - Is that normal? Does it seem high for 1 person over 4 months? Also, is it unusual that both bills are exactly the same?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

kuczer2

It is VERY unusual to have both bills be exactly the same for the same period.

If someone was to do the probability as a fraction I am sure it would be up there with winning the lottery 5 times in a row or being struck by lightning while standing under a rubber bridge!

I would ask for a breakdown of the costs (especially for the water bill as they don't mention the unit cost). Also, keep tabs on your meter reading yourself and calculate the next bill at the rate they have given you.

It seems to me that a figure has simply been plucked from the air or worse still they may even have taken a total figure for the building and simply divided it by the number of flats in there!

Cardew

You most certainly should get a breakdown of costs.

It may be for electricity that the estate agents have negotiated a group deal with EON(and got a kick back) but they are not allowed to resell electricity at a profit.

14p/kWh is not that bad a rate if you are a low user. Tariffs normally have a daily standing charge, or a tier system where you pay in the region of 20p/kWh for the first xx kWh a quarter(often 225kWh) and then around 10p/kWh.

So they are saying you have used 1,094kWh in 4 months which is about average consumption.

Your water is very high, £460 pa for a single person is way more than normal.

Insist on a detailed breakdown.

Futura_Bold

Thanks for the replies.

I spoke with a neighbour, and he's got exactly the same bill.

What's more, is that a couple of months ago all tenants received forms to sign up for 'Utility Warehouse'. I guess, as these were ignored, the estate agent is coming at us from a different angle.

It certainly doesn't feel right to pay the estate agent my utility bills, especially as there is no detail breakdown of costs, and evidently they've divided a figure up between the flats.

So, what to do now. I will phone and ask for a detailed breakdown, yet I am liable to pay if they refuse?

It does all seem a bit dodgy.

itsnotfair_2

If you are all the first tenants the meter reading to start should be nothing
My son rents an apartment. He pays direct debit direct to energy supplier for his usage and the same applies to the water usage. Looks like the EA is trying to pull a fast one.
What does your tenancy agreement say regarding payment of utilities.

Gerrard_8_lfc

Utility warehouse?

you might find th estate agent is getting a cut from UW for your electic bill as being a "Uw agent" check that out and demand a breakdown of costs.

Futura_Bold

I've just been on the phone with the estate agent.

Apparently, I'm getting a 'reasonable' deal because they haven't charged admin fees on top!

I asked for a breakdown of costs, and was told that I already have one (the only breakdown of cost I've had is 14p per unit). They said a whole bill for the block of flats has been sent to the landlord, who is 'admirably' swallowing some of the costs (eh?!). And the bill's we the tenants recieved are a combination of the meter reading when we moved in AND divided between the flats!! I'm more confused and bewildered than before I rang.

Finally, I asked if they thought it was strange that my electric and water bills were exactly the same, and they agreed about that and have said they will phone me back.

I'll ask again for a breakdown of costs, yet they did sound offended when I asked before!

Cardew

As I said in an earlier post, it is against the law for a landlord(or anyone) to sell Utilities at a profit.

The only way they can prove that they are not doing that, is to give you a breakdown - which EON tariff and the Tier 1/tier2 kWh rates or Daily standing charge and kWh rate.

You certainly do not want to be paying 14p/kWh during the winter.