Problems with Landlady

Beckylou89_2

Hi I've also posted this on gas and electricity discussion board, but thought i would post it here as well:

I hope you can help.

I live in student accommodation and our meter readings for gas and electricity are kept in a separate building. The building was being used as a restaurant and has closed down since November. As a consequence, despite constant nagging to my landlady, we still haven't gained access to the readings. I have now had a bill through totalling £530 (!!!) because N power worked it out using two estimated readings alongside one another. Obviously this reading is not correct or reflective of our usage (we were away for a month over the christmas period) therefore I have been trying to contact my landlady but she STILL wont give us access to the meter readings.

What shall I do? We really can't afford the bill but the landlady is quite simply not giving us our readings.

Thanks

fellwalker09

I expect someone will be along shortly with some expert advice. However, just in case it helps, I would begin by informing the landlord of your rights as a tenant to be able to read the meter box for a start. You must have your own readings for the energy that you use. Assuming that will be a brick wall, you should inform him/her that you shall be contacting the energy ombudsman -you must also keep the energy company informed as to what's happening, so that they do not assume you are refusing to pay etc and they can see you are trying to sort things out. Perhaps they can offer some suggestions also?
You can also try contacting the citizens advice / shelter re the landlord problem. I believe shelter are open today also. Hope this helps. I believe the landlord has a duty of care to respond to this issue and N power have a duty also to obtain accurate readings -they have not done so, basing it upon previous readings that are not your own previously used energy. I'd be contacting N power and insisting they read meter.

tbs624

*Write* to the LL (keep a copy) referring to your previous requests for meter access and formally requesting that access be made available to you within the next 3 working days.

Write to the utility company, explaining that you are unwilling to accept an estimated reading. Enclose a copy of the letter you will be sending to the LL. You may want to offer to make a smaller payment "on account" until the matter can be resolved

If the LL is registered with the Uni accomms service let them know of your difficulties: you can also seek support from the local Council's private sector tenancy relations officer.

Where is the emergency cut off point for your utilities btw?