Help please: Issue with eletricity bill from landlord - guidance required

Leicesteruk1989

Hi,

I have recently moved to a new 2 bedroom flat that I took through a letting agency

The flat is above is a block of 5 flats (above a resturant that the landlord owns)

The landlord has recently sent a letter that to summarise says that for two weeks the bill for electricty was £100

There is no meter or anything within my flat and apparently when I have spoken to others within the building, the landlord has his main metre and sub metres within the resturant.

According to others, the landlord feels that the sub metres have not been correct in reading as when he adds them up and then adds his resturant meter they do not equal the total.

So, supposedly he has now done a manual calculation of how much we should be paying based on no of units used x price per unit.

I'm shocked and can't believe how much this is, or even if this is legal for him to do this!

When I originally moved into the flat and checking my contract with the letting agency they never mentioned that the eletricity was only through the landlord

I have contacted my letting agent and they have recomended I contact the landlord. Before I do this I want to understand my rights and some advice if possible please on how I should approach this.

Please let me know if further information needed

Thanks!

spiro

If there are sub meters in place then the LL should be using these to bill you.
If he thinks they are inaccurate then he should replace them.
If there were no sub meters then he would have to agree a formula on how the overall bill is divided.
I suspect the issue is more that the LL has to pay 20% VAT plus CCL on the bill but can only recharge you 5% VAT and no CCL so he is not happy with his share of thre bill. You are legally entitled to know what he is paying as he can not make a profit from reselling to you. A quick google will find loads of advice for LL and tenants on this topic.

chanz4

- agree he is not but he is trying to make a profit out of it. The rates he will be charging I bet are also commercial unit charges

Ich_2

Advice here
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Consumers/Pages/Resaleofgasandelectricity.aspx

Terrylw1

If you have a submetet, if its not accurate either its the VAT and possibly CCl issues if the combined supply is above the De Minimus rule but it could also be an issue with the submeters or mixed wiring which he would need to get a Sparky out for.

Sounds like a landlord who is getting a bit dodgy to me.