No Access To Meters

Roz_V

We are due to move in to a new-build apartment next week and went to have another look round it when the builders handed over the keys on Monday...

However, the electric and water meters for the 8 apartments in each block are locked away behind four doors downstairs, to which our landlord has not been given the key, and therefore we will have no access (and neither will he)...

Is this even allowed??? How am I supposed to give regular and accurate meter readings if I cannot get in to see the meter? And I have no doubt that we will probably be charged for the water/electric used during the build unless I can get access to the meter to read it when we move in...

Do you think I should ask the landlord to check again with the contractors whether or not we will be getting access?? It does seem odd that we can't get at our meter...

TIA

Roz

Roz_V

Awww come on, somebody must know whether we (either us or our landlord) have a right of access to the meter?

mishkanorman

Cant help much Im afraid but hate seeing no replies so heres my stab in the dark theory,

I think that when you have a contract with an energy supplier they still own the equipment and you ' rent ' it, so perhaps you could contact the supplier (one would have been arranged by contractors ) and ask if they have access.

I quite agree with you seems bloody ridiculus that the landlord wont have access to part of his property.

Hope someone with a better idea gives you a hand.

mishka

deanos

You should have access to take your own readings thats for sure, when i come across similar situations all the tenants have a key for access and i have to ask one of them to borrow a key.

I would speak to the builder and get a key as the meter readers wont have access either

Roz_V

Thanks for the replies - have emailed the landlord tonight to ask him to pester the builders for a key (especially because I'm slightly concerned now that I've read horror stories on here about the communal areas being wired into people's domestic meters, and also I don't want to pay for the electric that the builders have used!!)

culpepper

Surely the meters belong to the suppliers but the cupboards in which they are kept belong to the landlord. So if he doesnt get provided with a key ,he surely has the right to have them forced open and just replace the locks.
Make sure he isn't just fobbing you off though ,isn't he the landlord that said the electric and gas are part of the rent unless you go over the cost specified? or have I got you muddled up with another poster?

Roz_V

Yeah its me - the bills are included in the rent up to maximum of £30 a month each for electricity and water. TBH having looked at our usage I think £30 is going to be a figure we never reach as we use very little.

I don't know who the cuboards belong to as they are in the hallway as you enter the block so its possible that they belong to whoever is responsible for the communal areas...