Help! Is this legal?

Yargo1

ILW wrote: »

May be better to leave the pre-payment meter there and let the next tenent make their own choice.

Thanks ILW, for now we just want to get it all back in parents name and get the house clean. Lets just say how you see some properties on that life of grime programme look like palaces compared to how theyve left my parents house!

My parents will then decided whether to sell or rent once it is back in order.

We want to sort the electricity out so we can go in with some industrial cleaner machines without paying extortionate pay as you go rates you see.

serious_saver

ILW wrote: »

May be better to leave the pre-payment meter there and let the next tenent make their own choice.

This is a very good point. If your parents next tenants request it then you can grant them permission provided they cover the cost/part cost. you never know, you might find a tenant who is happy with a pre-pay meter.

Just be glad that they are now rid of these terrible tenants. Good luck sorting this out.

Mrs_Arcanum

I agree with the posters above.

When they re-let I would leave it as a key meter with the new tenants or owners allowed to change to a standard meter. This way there is no cost to your parents and this relies on the credit standing of the new tenant alone. It really is much better to have all this in the tenants name as bills run up in your parents name are their responsibility and will affect their credit rating. Nor IIRC can your parents legally insist this is part of the tenancy agreement as they do not pay the bill.

These days there is no reason to stick to a particular supplier unless you are renting out a shared home and get utilities paid via rent charges.

Yargo1

serious_saver wrote: »

This is a very good point. If your parents next tenants request it then you can grant them permission provided they cover the cost/part cost. you never know, you might find a tenant who is happy with a pre-pay meter.

Just be glad that they are now rid of these terrible tenants. Good luck sorting this out.

Thanks for your reply. I will suggest this to my parents that until they know what they going to do ie: rent or sell that we perhaps keep it as it is.

Cheers for all replies.

ILW

Yargo1 wrote: »

Thanks ILW, for now we just want to get it all back in parents name and get the house clean. Lets just say how you see some properties on that life of grime programme look like palaces compared to how theyve left my parents house!

My parents will then decided whether to sell or rent once it is back in order.

We want to sort the electricity out so we can go in with some industrial cleaner machines without paying extortionate pay as you go rates you see.

Would make no more than a couple of pounds difference.

Mrs_Arcanum

Yargo1 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I will suggest this to my parents that until they know what they going to do ie: rent or sell that we perhaps keep it as it is.

Cheers for all replies.

If you have any forwarding address for the terrible tenants make sure the money owed via the key meter is transferred to them and get the key re-set. Otherwise you are paying their bills every time you put money on the key.

bargainbetty

If you want to switch it to British Gas, their rates for key meter electricity are very close to their decent tariffs for standard meters - someone there came to the remarkable decision that screwing people over wasn't nice, and it might be a good idea to offer decent rates.... at least until the new tenant comes in.

I might suggest a different agent too - one who makes sure the deposit is held with the relevant legal agency and collects the rent properly!

Good luck

Yargo1

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

If you have any forwarding address for the terrible tenants make sure the money owed via the key meter is transferred to them and get the key re-set. Otherwise you are paying their bills every time you put money on the key.

Hi , thanks for this. i had heard something like this but as i have no experience with pay meters i didnt know...

they have given the dodgy agents a false forwarding address... this is why this is so urgent!

Yargo1

ILW wrote: »

Would make no more than a couple of pounds difference.

Yes but see the information on this.. given by another poster..

If you have any forwarding address for the terrible tenants make sure the money owed via the key meter is transferred to them and get the key re-set. Otherwise you are paying their bills every time you put money on the key

dont want to pay extra .. and say put twenty quid on and 10 pound of it go on clearing their bill!

ILW

You do need to advise the supplier of the day they moved out and get a reading. The account needs to be in your name from that date so no liability for previous usage.