Can my landlord charge what he likes for electric?

Pennilessparent

I have recently moved into a private rental property, my landlord has several properties on one site. In the contract it states i can only buy my electric meter payment cards from him but my electric is costing £45-£50 A WEEK! It is only a four room chalet and I only have at most three bulbs and the telly on. Oh and we use the kettle and fridge too(the oven is run from a gas bottle which we also "have" to purchase from him and he sells at TWICE the price of anywhere else) but to put the emersion for an hour for a bath costs several pounds. So rather than that we dont have it on at all, meaning that we never have hot water but we simply cant afford it.
The electric is also vastly more expensive in the evenings when I'm at home from work and start to use more.
Can he do this? It seems morally wrong at the very least. Can I (as the tenant) change the supplier or have the meter put to a normal charge rate? I cant afford to even get myself to work at the moment, the electric charges are using half my weekly income.

Zandoni

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/EnergySupplyandPost/energysupply/managingbills/lanlord

This advice may be useful if you pay your landlord for electricity or gas for domestic use.
This includes:

• Rented properties where you pay your landlord for electricity and gas used
• Caravan parks where you pay the park owner for electricity and gas used
• Holiday homes and chalets where you pay the owner for electricity and gas used
• Houseboats and marine craft where you pay the moorings operator for electricity and gas used

This does not apply to:

• Commercial premises
• Properties where charges for electricity and gas are included in the rent, site or mooring fees

What is the Maximum Resale Price?

The Maximum Resale Price is the maximum that your landlord can charge you for gas and electricity which he has purchased from a supplier and sold on to you. It is set by the industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Markets.

Anyone who buys gas or electricity from an authorised supplier and sells it on cannot recover more than they paid originally. How the landlord recovers charges depends on whether your consumption is recorded by a meter.

If your usage is recorded by a meter your landlord should bill you for the units used plus your share of any standing charge at the same price as he paid his supplier.

If your usage is not recorded by a meter the landlord should apportion costs according to the floor space you occupy and the appliances you use. The landlord must demonstrate to you that the method he has used to apportion costs is reasonable.

What can’t be recovered?

The bill that your landlord gives you for gas and electricity must only be for the cost of gas and electricity consumed. Any other charges such as an administration charge for billing or charges for lighting common areas must be billed separately and are not subject to Maximum Resale Price.
Disputes

You should ask your landlord to explain to you the basis of the charges he has made.

If you feel you have been over-charged you should take it up with the landlord in the first instance. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally you should call Consumer Direct for further advice.

bigheadxx

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/home_and_neighbourhood_index_ew/renting_a_home_index_ew/common_problems_with_renting.htm#Gas_electricity_and_water_supplies

<H3>Charging for fuel

There are legal restrictions on the amount your landlord can charge you for fuel which is supplied through a pre-payment meter provided by your landlord. If a pre-payment meter is set to charge above the legal limits, you are entitled to a rebate when it is emptied.
If you pay your landlord each time a bill is received and you think the amount is too high, you should ask to see the bill before paying it.
If fuel is paid for along with the rent, you should check whether there is a written tenancy agreement which specifies how this is assessed. If the rent is registered with the Rent Officer, the amount for fuel may be specified and this cannot be changed without the agreement of the Rent Officer.
For details of the maximum your landlord can charge for gas and electricity, consult the fuel supplier or an experienced adviser.

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