scottish power prepayment meter and tarrif change

jay1181

Hi we have a tenant who has one of these prepayment key meters installed for his electric (he had this installed as when it was let it was a dry meter credit one) we were just talking last night as he is having difficulties paying his rent ect as he has been let go from his work so he put 200 pounds onto his electric meter over a few weeks and is in credit for that amount. anyway he said to me last night that the price change wouldn't affect him as he doesn't intend to top up the meter for a few months due to him not using much as the house is heated by gas. is this true or is he just going to get hit with another bill because the tariff wasn't updated ? eg he bought 200 pounds worth of credit last week lets say the 5th and he doesn't top up until 5th feb ect and there is a price change due 31st of dec does he get recharged for the difference because he thinks he will avoid it due to him having credit on the meter.?
he is due to move out at the end of feb and we dont want to be hit by a massive bill when trying to get that prepay meter taken out again as we have had this problem with them before refusing to change it untill last tenant bill was settled ect .
sorry for the long post

jay1181

found this seams he would be charged
http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/pdf/SPCustomercharters_Prepay.pdf

Wyre

It's pre-payment - you won't get a bill, he just won't have any electricity if it runs out.

pooch

jay1181 wrote: »

...he is due to move out at the end of feb and we dont want to be hit by a massive bill when trying to get that prepay meter taken out again as we have had this problem with them before ...

Landlords usually ensure they ask for a security deposit up front from tenants to help cover costs of a tenant not leaving a property in the same condition as it was originally let in (fair wear & tear excepted)

If you attract the class of tenant you get tends to end up with a PPM anyway, why not just leave it for the next tenant anyway?

Joyful

When he moves out you give a reading. If he had not collected a tariff update message by topping up it may then show a shortfall on the account ( depending on how much credit he has left on his meter.) As longs as you give a reading you should not be billed for any shortfall.

jay1181

hi we did take a deposit and its secured hes a nice guy but the prepay meter we only just found out he had it. He had a great job with the council in north lanarkshire but they have just let him go and it all came to light when he was late with his rent for the first time ever. The problem with prepay is at most of the houses we have they all have solar on he roof with its own electrical connection ect but since the prepay has went in 2 months ago (he said he didnt want to get into debt so he requested the change but didnt tell us) scottish power then disconnected the solar feed in supply/meter so the panels are doing nothing due to limited space in the meter box or some reason. this is not the only property we have this issue on but thats another story. i phoned scottish power to request that the meter be changed after he leaves to be told they will change it as long as there is not a debt on the meter with them as it will have to be paid first. scottish power seem to think they can chace us if the tenent leaves an unpaid bill ect. we check before the desposit is given back but sometimes months down the line the new tenant will give us a letter from scottish power ect trying to get us (the owners) to pay stating we are liable due to owing the house. we have had this last year from them when after 4 months they stated they were owed money from the previous tenant and because they couldnt trace them they tried it on with us. after a long 4 months of telling them where to go they finally got the message. we just don't want that happening again. is there anyway to buy you own meters from scottish power so that i can stipulate that these meters cannot be changed to prepay under any circumstances and if it happens then i can go down breach of tenancy ect ect ?
thanks for the replys

[Deleted User]

Hi,

just make it part of the tenancy agreement that tenant is not allowed to have meter changed.

Joyful

I do not think the above would hold up as you cannot determine the type of meter a tenant has. You may though be able to add something to the tenancy agreement that as you have solar panels the tenant will be liable for any shortfall if they do not work due to a meter exchange.