Utility Bills

clar2242

I live in a converted school of approx 60 apartments. The landlord gets a communal bill for the entire property and recharges each apartment based on there usage.

There have been issues this year where the landlord hasn't read the meters very regularly, so bills have been sporadic.

Yesterday evening I received a letter saying that they were going to read the meters today, less than 12 hours notice.

The letter also states that they will read the meters on the first working day of each month going forward and from now on they will include a management charge of £10 per utility (so £30 a month charge, £360 a year), to read the meters and provide the invoice.

I don't think this is very fair imposing this charge for them to charge this high amount.

Are there any laws or advice anybody can give me so that when I discuss with the landlord I'll have something to back me up?
Could I go to ofgem or energy watch, as its unfair that I can't choose my supplier or tarrif?

regards.

Scott

HappyMJ

The landlord cannot include an admin/management charge on the actual bill itself. It can only contain how many units you have used and the rate per unit totalling up to your final bill and that's it. If the landlord does wish to make an admin charge they will have to send a seperate bill such as including it with the service charges that you pay if owned or they can include it in with the rent. Which they would get fewer takers on the rent as it would then be £30 higher. Anyway, £30 per month is quite high. That's £1,800 for less than a day's work. Nice if you can get it.