Not allowed to access my electricity meter, is this right?

PurplePow

I live in a flat and the electricity meters are kept in the communal hallway in a locked cupboard - only the management company know the keycode to get in.

When we need to submit a meter reading we have to ring the management company who send someone out to read the meter, write it down on a bit of paper and leave it in our post box for us. We've tried asking for the code but told we're not allowed to have it.

I'm just wondering if they are allowed to do this? I'm just concerned that I can't check my own meter, and I'm leaving it in the hands of someone else to write down the numbers.

System

Do you have written documentation in the form of an agreement which you signed for the flat ?
If that agreement states the procedure for gaining access to the meter is for the management company to give you the readings, then you may have a battle against unfair contract terms.

However, in normal cases, they should allow you access to read the meter yourself - at an agreed time maybe.

Irratus_Rusticus

You refer to a management company so I'm guessing you are a leaseholder?

Communal areas in leasehold flats are "amenities" that you pay for in your service charges. My instinct is that dwellers have the legal right to access their meters in a communal area.

Dunno about precise law, but I'd ask the leasehold advisory service.

If you are renting or subletting, try asking your local authority's private tenancy people. Local authorities have legal powers to advise/ enforce tenure rights. They'll at least advise!

PurplePow

Yes I am a leaseholder, but we own our flat.

Thank you for your advice, I was wondering if this was a problem for anyone else because it just seems a bit strange to me.

Irratus_Rusticus

Hi, Owners of 'long leasehold' (the original lease was at least for 99 years) are owner-occupiers until the lease expires.

Your flat's meter is therefore YOUR meter, not the freeholder's.

The management agent legally looks after only the freeholder's (landlord) interests under the lease. So, if there is a communal landlord supply meter for maybe commual area lighting, then that cost is divided into the service charge and the agent 'manages' that meter only in the block.

Your fellow owners must be very passive indeed to let yourselves be passed 'notes' from a locked cupboard!

If you need to ask a proper legal expert for free, ring LEASE on 020 7383 9800. LEASE only deals with long leasehold rights as above.

Maybe a previous owner took the cupboard key by mistake when they sold up? Presumably you do receive the actual bills for the flat you own? So go and get a replacement meter cupboard key. Far as I know they are standard. If the landlord fitted a padlock, that would be like locking you out of your own bathroom. :eek:
BTW I'm a long leaseholder and we wouldn't take this kind of treatment by an agent lying down!

Farway

Irratus_Rusticus wrote: »

So go and get a replacement meter cupboard key. Far as I know they are standard. If the landlord fitted a padlock, that would be like locking you out of your own bathroom. :eek:

OP stated
only the management company know the keycode to get in.

So no key to get, just a set of numbers, which I guess is the equivalent of fitting a padlock

PurplePow

Irratus_Rusticus wrote: »

Hi, Owners of 'long leasehold' (the original lease was at least for 99 years) are owner-occupiers until the lease expires.

Your flat's meter is therefore YOUR meter, not the freeholder's.

The management agent legally looks after only the freeholder's (landlord) interests under the lease. So, if there is a communal landlord supply meter for maybe commual area lighting, then that cost is divided into the service charge and the agent 'manages' that meter only in the block.

Your fellow owners must be very passive indeed to let yourselves be passed 'notes' from a locked cupboard!

If you need to ask a proper legal expert for free, ring LEASE on 020 7383 9800. LEASE only deals with long leasehold rights as above.

Maybe a previous owner took the cupboard key by mistake when they sold up? Presumably you do receive the actual bills for the flat you own? So go and get a replacement meter cupboard key. Far as I know they are standard. If the landlord fitted a padlock, that would be like locking you out of your own bathroom. :eek:
BTW I'm a long leaseholder and we wouldn't take this kind of treatment by an agent lying down!

I'm guessing there must have been complaints - it's a large complex there's several houses across 2 courts each house at least 8 separate flats so I would say at least 100!

I'm going to try and demand access on the phone - I'm not happy with trusting someone I dont know to write down my meter reading correctly.

spiro

GemmaC25 wrote: »

I'm guessing there must have been complaints - it's a large complex there's several houses across 2 courts each house at least 8 separate flats so I would say at least 100!

I'm going to try and demand access on the phone - I'm not happy with trusting someone I dont know to write down my meter reading correctly.

When you do this also advise you supplier of the method of gaining access (name & number), it may save you getting a letter from your supplier saying they are going to apply for warrant to access the meter, which they have to do every two years.

macman

The meters belong to the suppliers (not the freeholders or leaseholders) who will also need access.

samtheman1k

How about asking them when they are going to come and read it and be there (and see what code he puts in?)

Irratus_Rusticus

Hi again.

Okay, legally meters belong to suppliers. Guess that's true even in a palace.

Doesn't change fact that an owner-occupier (long leaseholder) has right to "free passage" for running all services from and to the demised premises, wherever these service runs may be. Otherwise it could be a very cold, dark and thirsty life owning a flat! That is where rights and easements come into their own. Owners don't have to beg mercy.

Blocking access to meters unrelated to the lessor's fixtures and fittings or 'landlord supply', and which only exist for the purposes of measuring supply to individual demised premises, would be a perversion of the right of free passage and such access constitutes a basic easement.

Freeholder landlords and their agents are an unregulated bunch because LAs don't enforce the various laws and even criminal offences go unpunished. The only way to protect your rights is to work with your neighbours and stand up to them. Threaten exercising Right To Manage. It only need half the owners of your block, not all the owners on an estate.

Read the lease. It simply can't be necessary to have to loiter in your hall on a cold winter day when you need to be at work (or asleep) in the hope of catching an agent opening a blessed cupboard. Let alone having to rely on a note provided at an agent's convenience.

It is YOUR meter in that sense.