Help! I think im being ripped off :-(

tattnianna

Hello

I need some help

I live in a block of 2 flats, above a dentist. My landord is also the dentist, who owns the whole building. I had my electricty bill come through, which was extortionate, so I asked my energy company to come out and do a meter reading. The problem is, the meter is under the dentist, and the electricity meter reading man went to read it, and the dentist refused. He said he was closed, although I couldn't actually physically check, as I was at work.

I have a sneaky suspiscion that he is fiddling the meters, as he is also trying to charge me an extortionate amount for the communal area of the flats, which consists only of 2 lightbulbs that come on when the door is opened - he wanted £200 off me and the downstairs flat for this :mad:

I am in dispute with him over service charges anyway, and he is completely incooperative, but my electricty supplier is threatening to cut me off because I wont pay, as I don't think it's right!!

Any ideas anyone??

Thanks

Tatty

espresso

What does your tenancy agreement say about electricity and communal charges etc. Perhaps the citizens advice bureau could help you see here

Fire_Fox

You must pay your energy bills or you may end up with a black mark on your credit history, the dispute between you and the freeholder is no concern of the supplier unfortunately. You can get a refund if you have overpaid.

Are you the leaseholder? If so don't bother with the CAB: they are great for supporting those in rented accommodation but, if these forums are anything to go by, they rarely seem to have a clue about long leases and service charge disputes.

Read the LEASE website inside and out and then formally request (in writing by recorded delivery) to see the invoices that relate to your service charge payments - these must be provided within one month of a request or the landlord commits an offense which carries a fine of up to £2.5K!!
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/

With awkward freeholders I find it helpful to actually quote the legislation so they know you are fully appraised of your rights and their legal responsibilities, e.g.
"As well as receiving the summary, the leaseholder has the right under section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to inspect documents relating to his service charge as a follow-up to provide more detail on the summary ... Facilities for inspection must be provided within one month of the request, and must be available for a period of two months."