The Police/British Gas/Central Networks

funkymunky_strz

il try to make this as brief as possible..

my property was on rent through a agency. we were recieving rent up until March 2011. I then questioned the agency who told me the tenants had 'ran away.'

After paying a visit to the property, I could see new carpets had been installed upstairs, a lot of lighting but the electricity meter was missing.

I then recieved a call from the Police to tell me the property had been pat of a Drugs raid. the police had therefore removed the electricity meter for their own proof.

going back to the agency, they apologised and said they would help us getting our meter back on.

for the past 4 months, i have made endless calls to british gas, the agency and central networks (who power supply all houses in the UK)

British Gas have come out twice to tell me they cannot insert the meter until Central Networks connect a power line from the road to the property (the police have cut this off)

I have contacted Central Networks, who have told me this is a 10 week process...and have just send me a electiricty connection bill for £929.86

today, i tried contacting the agency. the guy's landline is now a dead number and he won't answer his mobile phone.

I don't see why I should have to pay this?
Is there anything I can do?

Also, the past 4months I have lost out on rental income and have had to pay surplus amounts of money to put the property back to a normal state.

lemontart

just for the record central networks don't own the networks for the whole country -

spiro

Some info that may help you:

1) The police will not have cut the power, the distribuition company will have done this normally because the supply in the property is dangerous i.e. main fuse overidden (typical for a canabis farm).
2) Agree the meter will have been removed as evidence.
3) Yes the comapny will need to reconnect you and this could easily take 10 weeks and cost £1000, especially if the cable has to be connected under a road which require council permits.
4) Once you have a new cable then you supplier (BG) will be able to book a meter worker to install a new meter.
5) In terms of lost income/extra expense I guess there are two options; (1) your LL insurance or (2) sue the tenant. Given what has happened you should claim the tenants deposit from the agent towards these costs.
6) FYI, this sort of thing is on the increase. Ideal tenants who pay everything on time only because they want not visitors because of what they are doing indoors.