HELP, New home has prepaid gas and electric

HappyMJ

Wywth wrote: »

That doesn't say anything about it being in the LL's name.

I think you are imagining things you want to read rather than what is actually written

The contract of paying the gas, electric and water bills is usually in the name of the tenant and supplier. The choice of supplier and tariff is up to the tenant. The landlord will not have anything to do with that contract. If a landlord has a property with separate metering such as a self contained flat as part of another property or a HMO for example and has the bills in their name and is charging tenants based on use the bill for the gas, electric and water will be a separate bill generated by the landlord to the tenant. If the tenant does not pay that bill to the landlord then the landlord can use some of the deposit money to pay that bill.

I aint imagining things. Tenants can choose suppliers and tariffs and if that tariff requires a different meter then the landlord can not ask the tenant for any money to switch that meter or remove a meter if one was installed if a meter did not previously exist.

Wywth

HappyMJ wrote: »

...I aint imagining things. ....

I think you are, dear.

My advice was the basic underlying premise of any TA that the property must be returned at the end of the TA to the LL in the condition it was originally let (fair wear and tear excepted).
If it is not, then the security deposit may be used to cover the costs the landlord reasonably incurs in doing so. Its whya a security deposit is asked for.

You introduced the OFT article which does not contradict that advice.

In fact, if anything it reinforces my other advice which was to ask the LL beforehand and avoid the possibility of resulting issues.

I suggest you follow the suggestion in your earlier post and give up.

This is because I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter as you clearly don't like what I am posting.

However I do thank you for linking to the OFT article which only goes to support what I have posted

HappyMJ

Wywth wrote: »

I think you are, dear.

My advice was the basic underlying premise of any TA that the property must be returned at the end of the TA to the LL in the condition it was originally let (fair wear and tear excepted).
If it is not, then the security deposit may be used to cover the costs the landlord reasonably incurs in doing so. Its whya a security deposit is asked for.

You introduced the OFT article which does not contradict that advice.

In fact, if anything it reinforces my other advice which was to ask the LL beforehand and avoid the possibility of resulting issues.

I suggest you follow the suggestion in your earlier post and give up.

This is because I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter as you clearly don't like what I am posting.

However I do thank you for linking to the OFT article which only goes to support what I have posted

OK we'll disagree.

What would you do if a tenant of yours installed a water meter against your wishes? They can't be removed. Also assuming the metered bills will now always be higher than the rateable bill that would have previously applied.

Wywth

HappyMJ wrote: »

OK we'll disagree.

What would you do if a tenant of yours installed a water meter against your wishes? They can't be removed. Also assuming the metered bills will now always be higher than the rateable bill that would have previously applied.

Well if I was a LL and if I had a property that was let and if that property did not have a water meter fitted, I would hope the tenants I had chosen to live in my property would have the courtesy to ask me first if I would object to having a water meter fitted.

I would probably welcome it as it usually saves the customer money, so would make the property more lettable at the end of the tenacy.

But lets throw in a few more ifs.
If the tenants didn't contact me , and if they did get a water meter fitted, and if I didn't welcome the idea, what could I do about it ... and more importantly, what costs could I reasonably expect to incur by this change???
As you say, it can't be changed back, so presumably no costs are involved.

Anyway, this thread is about gas and electricity meters, remember?

HappyMJ

Wywth wrote: »

Well if I was a LL and if I had a property that was let and if that property did not have a water meter fitted, I would hope the tenants I had chosen to live in my property would have the courtesy to ask me first if I would object to having a water meter fitted.

I would probably welcome it as it usually saves the customer money, so would make the property more lettable at the end of the tenacy.

But lets throw in a few more ifs.
If the tenants didn't contact me , and if they did get a water meter fitted, and if I didn't welcome the idea, what could I do about it ... and more importantly, what costs could I reasonably expect to incur by this change???
As you say, it can't be changed back, so presumably no costs are involved.

Anyway, this thread is about gas and electricity meters, remember?

It's about returning the property back in the same condition.

If a rateable bill was the minimum £120 a year but the tenants don't know that it is already cheap but listen to Martin's money saving advice and change to a water meter knowing that if it does cost more then they can switch back to rateable value billing...so they install a meter...the bill comes in at £240 a year for just one occupant...so they ring the water company straight away and switch back. The meter is now in and every new occupant is now charged a minimum of £240 a year.

You can't charge the tenant anything.

Same with the gas and electric meters. Suppliers charge exactly the same rate on a standard meter as they do on a credit meter so by the landlord staying on a credit meter it isn't costing them any more money and by your same reasoning of saving money any new tenant could save even more money on a credit meter by switching supplier, managing their bills online, fixing the rate for a year or so and paying by direct debit which is cheaper than prepayment.

I just can't see the tenancy deposit scheme allowing a landlord to deduct a charge against a tenants deposit to switch back to a prepayment meter when it's fine the way it is.

Wywth

Oh dear. This is positively surreal.

I refer the honourable poster to the answers I have given previously

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. :xmastree:

Andyph

Blimey not been on a few days and all hell has broken loose lol

Thanks for the replys, have registered with SP and they have advised they want £110 to remove both meters....

anyone know which companies will do this for free?

Looks like i have also been paying back the previous tenants debt dispute CS advising that the meter has been set to not deduct any money.