landlord over charging for utilities

needtosavecash

Hi there right unsure what to do about this

Basically im sure well I know! My landlord is well over charging me for utilities each month on my commercial unit!

I have suspected this right from the first one, being new to commercial property and finding out when the new boiler was fitted it had been set so the heating in the office was coming on during the night!!!! (my fault should have checked after it was installed) so I left it for the first one

Second one,I questioned him about the gas usage as it literally is used for washing hands that’s it!, his answer was don’t use it basically or turn it off

The electric I also think is expensive now! As we are only using lights most days and light power tools! Nothing that should/would cause a big surge etc

And the water! Now again other than flushing the toilet and washing hands this is not used!

　

For washing cars we have got friendly with the bloke next door he lets us use his outside tap and hosepipe and he has some space im not using in the office for storage while he builds garage! (my unit is next to a newish housing estate)

Anyway JULY has been a crap month! So when I have had work its been half a day stuff then iv gone home and done other things

I was also away completely for a week

Yet JULYS utilities bill has just come this morning! And is literally only pence different to previous months Where we have been there all day every day! And sometimes evening and weekends aswell

So basically im 99% sure hes making these up as he goes along!

Now I am the only tentent currently in at the moment! Hes just had one bloke who made kitchens do a flit and the rest has been empty for about 2 years from what iv been told! He also has a few other office buildings etc empty and by all accounts is himself feeling the pinch of the downturn! And has gone from 30 staff to now himself and an apprentice

However im now at a point where myself im now not making enough to cover my overheads if this month will be anything like last, early signs so far are suggesting it is going to be! So I will not be ripped off any longer

　

My question is whats the best way of going about this? And how can I prove he is or isn’t Hes been in business for years! And im young and new to this and he knows that hence why hes probably trying it

on

All my meters are in the main building, witch he uses as his own personal storage, conveniently every units meters are all in there locked away so you cant keep tabs on them even if you want because hes rarely about during the week,

Could I request to go on a pay AS you use type meter you find in houses etc? or can this not be done with commercial supplies have 3 phase electric if that makes a deference

　

Sorry it’s a long read thanks for looking and thanks for any replys

O and also I still have not recived a tenancy agreement! And have been in 3 months now! it’s a 12 month “licence agreement so I cant even go back to that to see whats in there about utils charages etc!

anselld

Residential LL are not allowed to make a profit on resale of energy under Ofgem rules. Unfortunately this does not apply to commercial LL so you can only ask to see readings and to be told what is in the lease agreement regarding energy charges.

Notmyrealname

Prices for electricity and gas for business tend to be higher than residential.

Also as a commercial tenant, absolutely none of the rules that apply to private renting apply to commercial renting so rights to tenancy agreements, reselling of electricity, repairs etc don't apply.

theartfullodger

(No offence but..) did you read the tenancy agreement & understand what the landlord could charge before you signed???

needtosavecash

So in a nut shell there's nothing I really can do about it then? :mad:

Cheers for replys

And I have not signed anything still yet! He said there was a problem with solicitor then got a new contract drawn up I'm yet to even see let alon sign

missrlr

if each unit is billable separately i.e. has a separate meter you can register this in your company name and be responsible for yourself .... assuming your agreement permits this

anniecave

Where is this "bill" coming from? Is it something that your landlord has made up on a piece of paper? based on meter readings? Or is it a bill from a registered supplier for example British Gas or Southern Electric?

Are the bills based on actual meter readings? If the "bill" is based on an actual meter but no-one is reading the meter then that may explain why the bills don't vary between months - they could all be estimated!

needtosavecash

No they usually come just broken down on his own made up invoice with his name on

Addressed to me as utilities invoice for whatever month

No readings or breakdowns are on it

Just a total

And then he's charging 25% vat I'm not sure witch is 5% and witch are 20% I assume water is 5% vat?

By all accounts I don't even know who the supplier is!

I just find it hard to believe that our household 1/4erly bill came in just above what my monthly ones are for there when we use a lot less electric at work and water etc! (home we have dryer always on kettle etc etc)