Can Landlord Dictate who Provides your Energy?

[Deleted User]

I've had it in a contract before that I could not change the energy provider - I believe it was because the LL had breakdown assistance package with the specific provider that covered the boiler and if we'd changed the provider then this would no longer have been the case.

It just so happened that we were with the cheapest at the time and it meant when the boiler broke down we got it seen to and repaired super quick, so we didn't try and argue the point, but it did seem a little unfair.

Of course they'd have had to repair the boiler anyway - but given the LL's track record of making other repairs (very very slow) I think it worked out for the best for us as the boiler broke down a couple of times in very cold weather.

Thrugelmir

jenner wrote: »

but its not the ll paying the bill its the tenant, so who gets the convenience.

i would also add that this, like any other business involves aspects of administration, so to take half a day to find out where the utility supplier was, whilst frustrating, is part of the day to day business of letting, if you dont like it, dont let a property

Its the tenant that decides to rent a particularly property. So the tenant should confirm the details to their satisfaction before signing the contract.

You are happy to suggest the LL spends their time performing extra administration, but no doubt would be unhappy paying an increased rent to compensate for it.

franklee

GDB2222 wrote: »

Well, it starts with however long it takes to travel to the property to get the meter numbers. Then phoning around - not just one phone call. There's also a learning curve to find out whom to phone. It's not that hard, but it's a PITA if you have a full-time job to do. Not such a problem if you are retired

If you mean reading the meters, why not do that on checkout inspection so it's not an extra trip? In fact I thought that's one of the obvious things to do at checkout. The meter point reference number etc. remains the same so you only need to collect that once and IIRC you get it from giving the address, it's not written on the meter. This seems only a small amount of work that whoever manages the property should expect to do on checkout. Checkout is a chance to ask the tenant who the supplier is, why not put down you want to know in a pre-checkout letter?

As for who to phone if the tenant isn't co-operative, you phone national grid to ask who the supplier is and they will either tell you or point you towards who can tell you, so that's only a couple, maybe three calls.

I thought being a landlord or managing agent was a job.

Wee_Willy_Harris

DrScotsman wrote: »

For a start reporting a repair IS a small phone call. However I'm not sure I agree with your definition of fair.

As is finding out who the supplier is. All seems pretty fair just the way it is, so why start threatening people with their deposit over such a triffling matter? Hardly the best way to a good LL/T relationship, is it?

Wee_Willy_Harris

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Its the tenant that decides to rent a particularly property. So the tenant should confirm the details to their satisfaction before signing the contract.

You are happy to suggest the LL spends their time performing extra administration, but no doubt would be unhappy paying an increased rent to compensate for it.

If that's the way you want LLs to behave, then you'd better prepare them to spend a good deal of time at the start of the tenancy while their prospective tenant goes through every single condition on the agreement in fine detail before signing. And I'd imagine there will be plenty of your little clauses in there if this is how you react to such a petty issue. Of course, most T'agreements would benefit from some ammendment, so that will have to be re-drafted, re-checked, etc etc. What a waste of everybodys time for the sake of a phone call.

Thrugelmir

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

If that's the way you want LLs to behave, then you'd better prepare them to spend a good deal of time at the start of the tenancy while their prospective tenant goes through every single condition on the agreement in fine detail before signing. And I'd imagine there will be plenty of your little clauses in there if this is how you react to such a petty issue. Of course, most T'agreements would benefit from some ammendment, so that will have to be re-drafted, re-checked, etc etc. What a waste of everybodys time for the sake of a phone call.[/QUOTE

Who said LL's. The onus is on the tenant.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Who said LL's. The onus is on the tenant.

Huh? Tenants write their own tenancy agreements in your world?

How did I guess that you're NOT a LL?

olly300

When renting and I changed my supplies I told my landlord and left a note with the supplier names in an obvious place in the meter cupboard.

So check who your boiler is serviced by and if there is no tie in change the suppliers.

Then either:
1. Change back at towards the end of the contract, OR
2. Leave a note in the meter cupboard and send a recorded delivery letter to the landlord stating who the suppliers are. (Keeping all proof you sent the letter.)

DrScotsman

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

As is finding out who the supplier is. All seems pretty fair just the way it is, so why start threatening people with their deposit over such a triffling matter? Hardly the best way to a good LL/T relationship, is it?

For a start we've already been over this, GDB says it's not a short phone call. If it is a phone call then what's the problem, because both the tenant and the landlord know that LL can only claim for his losses, and a short phone call is not a loss.

Secondly, I wasn't saying anything other than putting a term like "The tenant will inform the landlord who is supplying the electricity and gas when leaving" in contract. Not "...or you will pay over £9000" into it. Now I don't know what any of your tenancy agreements look like, but a term like that is much less likely to sour the relationship with my landlord than many of the other terms in my tenancy agreement. But maybe it's just me and I'm the only tenant with an LA whose contracts seem very one-sided...oh wait a minute.

GDB2222

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

If that's the way you want LLs to behave, then you'd better prepare them to spend a good deal of time at the start of the tenancy while their prospective tenant goes through every single condition on the agreement in fine detail before signing.

I not only expect that tenants will read the agreement, I normally send them a draft in advance. And I'll consider any changes they want to make. I certainly wouldn't sign an agreement without reading it, and I would not expect a tenant to do so either. I'm astonished by your comment.