Bill of horror

macman

13.99p per unit? Ouch! What tariff is that then?

t0rt0ise

Ask to see the water bill too. The price for water can vary considerably depending on the area you live in but you need to check that you aren't paying for the landlord's water bill too.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

There is a table of average electric bills here:

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/utilities/electricity-bills.html

Your bill sounds high to me, can you give us a rough idea of what sort of electrical things you have in the house (TV's, computers, games consoles, washing machine, dishwasher - how frequently both of these are used) and how many hours per day you are normally in the house using stuff? (in other words not working/sleeping etc).

I would expect a typical electric bill for a two bedroom flat to be what you have quoted for an entire year, not six months, but I am making a lot of assumptions in saying that. Equally if you are on a water meter, how do you use water? (bath/shower, sink/dishwasher, washing machine and how frequently on all these). The water seems to be on the same pricing level as someone without a meter, the old rateable values and seems very high.

As others have said you need to be seeing the bills. Can you ask also to go downstairs and see the meters first-hand this time, then you can get proof what they say now and in six months you can do the same again?

This isn't highly accurate but with your landlord's agreement there is nothing stopping you fixing up an electric energy monitor on the meter if you are allowed access to it as a one-off, you clip something on the tail of the meter then it communicates with the receiver upstairs so you get a rough idea how much you are using and you don't need access to the meter. Is it possible you are being charged for other peoples' use?

t0rt0ise

CitySlicker wrote: »

Equally if you are on a water meter, how do you use water? (bath/shower, sink/dishwasher, washing machine and how frequently on all these). The water seems to be on the same pricing level as someone without a meter, the old rateable values and seems very high.

You can't and shouldn't say that unless you know where he lives. Water prices in the South West for example are astronomical.. 5 times higher than other places. Best not to mislead the OP I think. Have a look at some of the posts on the water forum to see.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

t0rt0ise wrote: »

You can't and shouldn't say that unless you know where he lives. Water prices in the South West for example are astronomical.. 5 times higher than other places. Best not to mislead the OP I think. Have a look at some of the posts on the water forum to see.

I can say that and I have said that, just because you disagree with me doesn't automatically make me wrong and you right.

There has been no misleading, just general advice and looking at their meter compared with rateable values his bill is closer to a rateable value regardless of regions when compared to average bills for a two person household. I have not said anything definitive either.

Personally I think you should perhaps give the OP some credit as they are clearly questioning something they have identified as out of the ordinary, they are clearly not stupid, neither am I, best not to talk down to people.

silverjay

I have my own 2 bed flat all electric. Annual cost for electric is around £550/year and my water is £240/year. I do work full time though and am out a lot a weekends.

grahamc2003

William77 wrote: »

Hi
I've been billed by my landlord for £675.15 today broken down thus -
404.45 Electricity and 270.70 Water
I moved into the property which is a two bed flat on 4th June this year and live in a property share with another tenant in the flat. The landlord lives in the flat below and the meters are in his basement, he put the bill under the door after needing me to ask repeatedly for one but I am genuinely shocked at how much he is demanding. Does this figure seem reasonable or do I have cause for concern?
Please advise
Kind Regards
William

I'd say the elec bill is very large for a 2 bed flat with gas heating.

It may still be correct though - if you or your flatmate keep an electric fire on a lot of the time (in spite of the CH), or someone's got a lot of 'daylight' bulbs for growing plants for example.

I'm surprised you don't have access to your meters, I would have thought you have have a right to access those. Can you get at the mains switch on the consumer unit, to turn the electricity off in an emergency?

Is it possible you are being billed for your landlord's usage too (i.e. maybe there's one supply for both flats).

I think there are strict regulations for landlord's re-selling electricity, just in case he's trying to make a profit from it.

Why don't you have a supply contract of your own? I would have thought it normal that your electricity use is nothing to do with your landlord.

As said before, anything much over 10p/unit is excessive these days (until prices go up next month!).