Landlords and Prepayment Meters Question

In a House in Multiple Occupation with a prepayment meter for the tenants, can the landlord charge whatever he likes for electric? He supplies the prepayment cards for the meters and the electric is quite expensive for the tenants.

Also, would the tenants have a right to change their supplier?

Comments

  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,057 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    Tennants would not be able to change supplier, as your supply is via the landlords. He shouldnt sell for more, but not much of a way to find out.
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • samsmoot wrote: »
    In a House in Multiple Occupation with a prepayment meter for the tenants, can the landlord charge whatever he likes for electric? He supplies the prepayment cards for the meters and the electric is quite expensive for the tenants.

    Also, would the tenants have a right to change their supplier?

    Are you a landlord, or just thinking about becoming a landlord?
  • Terrylw1
    Terrylw1 Posts: 7,038 Forumite
    No, reselling for profit is not allowed in a domestic market. Its different for business landlords who buy quantities if energy rather than paying a bill, I think.

    Some landlords decide to invent various "administration charges" to make money as its harder to dispute.
    :rotfl: It's better to live 1 year as a tiger than a lifetime as a worm...but then, whoever heard of a wormskin rug!!!:rotfl:
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    chanz4 wrote: »
    He shouldnt sell for more, but not much of a way to find out.
    I believe you are entitled to see what he is paying, there is also the issue in some instances of him paying non-domestic VAT and CCL which he can't pass on as has to recoup through his business.
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
  • torbrex
    torbrex Posts: 71,340 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler Hung up my suit!
    I thought 'card' meters were obsolete as the top-up cards are no longer available, they were the largest number of meters that I chased down for a while when doing RPU investigations.

    There might be different rules for landlords though.
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,057 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    torbrex wrote: »
    I thought 'card' meters were obsolete as the top-up cards are no longer available, they were the largest number of meters that I chased down for a while when doing RPU investigations.

    There might be different rules for landlords though.


    you would of thought, but they is quite a few out there normally bypassed by the tennants like.
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • Terrylw1
    Terrylw1 Posts: 7,038 Forumite
    torbrex wrote: »
    I thought 'card' meters were obsolete as the top-up cards are no longer available, they were the largest number of meters that I chased down for a while when doing RPU investigations.

    There might be different rules for landlords though.

    The Smartpower meter ones are. Suppliers have been running swap out projects to get keys in for the 2 regions they existed in.

    What I tend to find is that project managers don't like hanging on to tie up loose ends and you get a small quantity that are left behind.

    I know there were problems with some projects where engineers simply fit another Smartpower meter! Then there was the issue of meters that there was no available meter setting in the industry as Key but some steps were taken to create new industry codes for these but whether it covered them all, I can't recall.

    It wasn't an Ofgem directive though so it was left to suppliers.
    :rotfl: It's better to live 1 year as a tiger than a lifetime as a worm...but then, whoever heard of a wormskin rug!!!:rotfl:
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    torbrex wrote: »
    I thought 'card' meters were obsolete as the top-up cards are no longer available, they were the largest number of meters that I chased down for a while when doing RPU investigations.

    There might be different rules for landlords though.
    These are sub-meters and are therefreo nothing to do with OFGEM or the industry rules on replacing out of date metering.

    A quick look with Google will briong up adverts like this http://www.stephenpwales.co.uk/Product/card/home_cards1.htm
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
  • Thanks all - I will pass on the info - it's for a friend.
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