Can a landlord transfer the electricity contract on your name?

Clear_Sky

We have lived in a cottage since january 2009 and there was no written agreement between our landlord and us. Recently, he decided to transfer the electricity contract on my fiance's name and forced us to sign a 'guests agreement' with him where we share this cottage with him (we've never done that). Can the electricity company put the contract on my fiance's name as long as there is not any renting agreement between our landlord and us? Please, we need urgently and advice because the electricity meter is on our landlord's garage and we've never had access at it. He cut our electricity in a night. On this electric meter there are connected the lights from the garden, landlord's stables and lights on the gate and a sensor light for the front gateand we've recently found out about that. What should we do now because he hasn't read the electric meter since the beggining of the year? Please, please, help us!

DVardysShadow

The answer depends to some extent upon the exact tenancy agreement between you and your landlord - just because there is no written agreement does not mean that you don't have a tenancy. It looks like your landlord wants you to be lodgers, whereas I think you are tenants.

You should write to the electricity supplier and advise them that your fiance does not accept responsibility for the bills and that they are the responsibility of the landlord - specify him by name - as some of the supplies are to parts of the premises occupied exclusively by him.

Take your problem to the House Buying, Renting & Selling forum to get advice on your tenancy and your exact rights. I think your problems with the tenancy are bigger than just the electricity

Cardew

Agree with the above.

There are some financial advantages for an owner in having lodgers rather than tenants, particularly if rents are low. You don't have to declare the first £4,250 pa(I believe)

However a lodger would not normally pay the electricity/water/council tax bill for the property.

Errata

HTH
Nobody can ask an electricity supply company to put the contract in someone else's name. If they could, I'd be putting mine in next door's name !

kippen_noedel

Having read the other thread, I removed my comment because there are too many questions.

you need real advice from a professional