Massive gas and electric bills!?

victor2

Looks like you're paying for whatever the red & blue wires are supplying.
That may not be safe, but the main issue seems to be that it is going through "your" meter. If your landlord can't get somebody to sort it out immediately, tell him you're getting the supplier to look into it and disconnect anything not going through your fusebox/distribution panel.

Joelk

Jalexa - yes I did mean fuse box.

Victor - am keen to just disconnect it anyway. If I don't know where the cables are going, I don't want them connected straight to the main house input terminal as then I could have allowed someone to change it so the other people who are using it if unmetered are abstracting from the energy company. If no one comes round by Wednesday/ Thursday will def call edf and get them to send someone around to look at it.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Joelk wrote: »

images posted at the following URLs:

www . joelkirstein . co . uk / meterimages

Here you go...
http://www.joelkirstein.co.uk/meterimages/photo 1.JPG
http://www.joelkirstein.co.uk/meterimages/photo 3.JPG
http://www.joelkirstein.co.uk/meterimages/photo 5.JPG

jalexa

Joelk wrote: »

Spoke to the agent today and he said he will get an electrician around soon - said he didn't know when yet but will tell them it's urgent. Am going to chase on Wednesday if i dont hear anything.

I don't want the electrician to re-connect the red and blue cables anywhere though -

I think this is primarily an issue for the landlord. I don't think the supplier's electrician will disconnect because it is not obviously a fraudulent hook-up, more a property conversion issue. In general past the meter is the householder's responsibility. In fact I sort of predict the supplier's electrician will simply apply a seal to the terminal cover and depart.

The landlord needs to make a formal application for a seperate supply, or take responsibility for sub-metering. Any new connection will require certification of the installation, a nice earner for the landlord's electrician.

Joelk

Thanks Jalexa - sounds promising!

How long would it take for a new supply?

I assume if the flat upstairs already has a meter it's an altogether easier task? It could be the electric is effectively being charged twice if they have a meter and it is fed via mine..!

Terrylw1

A new supply will take ages. Its a project that will require planning, quotes, payment then finally scheduled work when they are free to do it. The landlords Sparky prepares any wiring and provides a contractors completion certificate.

Before you get that far you need to understand how many meters to properties are involved here. You also need to be aware that a shared supply through a meter is not the suppliers problem, they can put your names on the bills with the other tenants but if one of you doesn't pay to the combined bill, you anyone named on the bill is liable for the whole lot. Where this is the set up the landlord should pay the bill, be liable, state in tenancy agreements its not you who is liable and install his own submeters so your consumptions can be determined to charge you.

Suggest seeing if the other properties have meters first, if not, the landlord is dodgy and is saddling tenants with problems. If they have meters, perhaps a simple check of who uses what would be for you and the other tenants to do a test together to see if all or one property is also wired to your fusebox.

Otherwise, a Sparky could check. I the tamper guys get out their and its just wiring, they won't do much else unless its unsafe.

Also, be careful with this if the other tenants have meters and you disconnect vua the supplier...although I don't think they would agree to do it if it could be a mixed wiring issue as its not there problem...the other tenants may have other suppliers. Asking might save you some issues since they might not be aware as its going o be the landlord if its wiring.

If its a tamper, strange the landlord hasn't reported it.

Joelk

Very good reply!

Think I will speak to the other tenant first, find out if they have a meter and maybe then see where it is - if it's really close to "above" our meter then maybe we're paying twice.

Only been living here 10 days - really hope the landlord isn't dodgy but all of this really doesn't give me much faith..!

Joelk

Hi all, thanks for all your help on this issue s far!

Have the electrician coming round tomorrow morning as arranged by the landlord. Any suggestions on how to play it? Obviously will casually ask for his ID to ensure he's qualified and legit.

Will probably play a bit 'dumb' and hope he spots the issue and either sorts it or advises on next steps. If he says it's all fine not a problem - ill know I'm being mislead and will then call EDF as a neutral third party to come and have a look - even if they cut it off, at least it will accelerate the landlord into acknowledging and fixing the issue.

Will update tomorrow as soon as I have any news from he electricians visit..!

jalexa

Joelk wrote: »

Have the electrician coming round tomorrow morning as arranged by the landlord. Any suggestions on how to play it? ...

...Will probably play a bit 'dumb' and hope he spots the issue...

No, don't do that. Specifically ask where (and what) the cable with the red, blue (and yellow) wires goes to.

If it is located in the other flat, try to find out if the other flat has a meter and whether the meter belongs to the electricity supplier or is a private sub-meter.

Terrylw1

Speak to your neighbour, its likely to give you information to resolve this.

Honestly, if the supplier has mixed wiring, they can book a job all they want but when the engineer gets out there if he suspects there is a load to the other property, he will abort.

Press the Sparky for anything you can. If its all been wired wrong, the landlord will have receipts for the work and may need to take further action.

The bad thing is that if the sparky has done this, it could take sometime as he wont want to do a free job.

Also, I wonder about receipts on this...I wonder if such a cobble up is based on a cash in hand job. Enquire about the contractors completion certificate which the sparky provides to detail works...if there isn't one he may not be qualified or there might be something of a dodgy landlord-to-sparky relationship. A few years back it changed to allow registered only sparkies to do work.