meter tampering

k4n3y

i rent out my flat as i stay with my fiance and my tenant has called to confess to tampering with the electic meter as it has caused a smallfire in the fuse box area and has melted part of the meter, i have made the flat safe and the tenant has gone to their parents for the weekend,i now have to contact my energy company and try to explain what has happened ,what worries me is that it was a prepayment meter and the account is still in my name so could i be in trouble with the law or will the tenant still be held responsible,i know a big bill may be on the way but tenant assures they will pay,i'm more worried about the legal side.

Ich_2

The supplier will generally be more interested in making good any loss than getting you prosecuted

k4n3y

Thanks for that, settled our minds a little,going to call them in the morning and see how it goes.

lemontart

daft question - why leave account in your name ? having such could cause you issues at some point with your credit record with someone else causing probs in your name. Not to mention the hassle of trying to clean it up afterwards

torbrex

The account is in your name so you are responsible for any charges levied ref new meter being fitted and estimated charges for electricity used during the period the meter has been bypassed.
Your tennant has said that they will pay any charges but do keep in mind the kind of person they are for having bypassed the meter in the first place.

southcoastrgi

please let us know how you get on, tampering with a meter either gas or electric is a ciminal offence

k4n3y

lemontart wrote: »

daft question - why leave account in your name ? having such could cause you issues at some point with your credit record with someone else causing probs in your name. Not to mention the hassle of trying to clean it up afterwards

The tenant has only been in since march,i had the prepayment key meter fitted so that there wasn't any bills,it's a six month lease rent paid in advance and my thinking was give it first six months,i haven't had a chance to talk to tenant properly yet and if i can get them to move out i will but i want to find out about any bills,blow back first before i never see them again.

lemontart

regardless of type of meter, as you have now found out there are risks and as in your name the supplier will come after you and you will then have to go after the tenant, also given it is a criminal act it could also invalidate any insurance claim for damage. Debts can still be run up on it - when my dd moved into a flat we found this on the electric meter, once she registered as occ the supplier cleared debt off it. But in your circumstances you would have to pay it and go after tenant for it.

chanz4

100% expert on this one, you will be charged for the meter cost, rpu cost which is a min of 200 and unrecorded usage. However has he run a wire from the main fuse to the consumer unit?

If so its going to be a long run, just hope you have all the proof of the rental , landlords insurance etc as this aint going to be cheap

torbrex

chanz4 wrote: »

100% expert on this one, you will be charged for the meter cost, rpu cost which is a min of 200 and unrecorded usage. However has he run a wire from the main fuse to the consumer unit?

If so its going to be a long run, just hope you have all the proof of the rental , landlords insurance etc as this aint going to be cheap

I visited over 300 jobs in my role as an RPU inspector and would never be arrogant enough to say I was 100% expert on any of them.

rogerblack

torbrex wrote: »

I visited over 300 jobs in my role as an RPU inspector and would never be arrogant enough to say I was 100% expert on any of them.

It is nice there are 100% experts to be found on MSE.