Just moved in, landlord to deal with electric

Chris842

Hi,

2 days ago, on Sunday, I moved into a new 1-bedroom flat with my girlfriend in London. When doing the paperwork, the landlord said he has to deal with the electric and we have to pay him the money for it each month. We need to handle the other bills. First he said £50 a month, we got him down to £40 a month. We already thought this was high because we paid a lot less in our previous house, but maybe its higher because its London?
The landlord said the insurance company says he has to take the electric because some previous tenants ran up a £1600 bill and disappeared.

Yesterday, my girlfriend called EDF to set up the gas. They told her the cheapest option is duel-fuel for £51 a month. £34 a month of this being gas, £15 a month electricity. The electric being more than half what the landlord says.

I called the landlord yesterday to try to explain, if he has to take the electric, could he also take the gas and we'll pay £51 a month? Also tried to explain the electric portion is a lot less than what he said..... but I couldn't! He got really angry! Started shouting at me, saying I've agreed to pay £40 a month. Said if I go to the electric company, fine, but he'll kick us out after 6 months (its a 6 month contract). Later in his rant, said he'll put the rent up after 6 months.

Electric company also said we need to ring in and give them the serial number on the meter, because of something about 4 companies linked to it and we might get bills off several companies? The landlord just said forget about the electric completely.

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If all the money is going to the electric company either way, I don't see what there is to get angry about. The fact that he got so angry is making me think something dodgy is going on and I don't trust him.
My girlfriend is worried we are paying for the previous tenants. The landlord says he has another property and the tenants there pay him £20 a week for electric. Why? Its too much of a coincidence for old tenants in two of his houses to have ran up huge bills and disappeared.

Not sure how to proceed now. What would you do? Forget about everything to do with the electricity? But then how likely are we to get several bills of different electric companies? Just ring with the serial number?

Thanks,

Chris

good_advice

Hi Chris
The landlord does not own the gas or electric meters. I would be inclined to write down all numbers and get your own bill.

ihateyes

also ask him to see the leccy bill each month.
he cant profit from it

Cardew

Firstly it is unlawful to make a profit from reselling gas and electricity.

Secondly, what EDF(or any other company) set as your INITIAL direct debit is meaningless. It will be adjusted up or down in line with your consumption.

If the Landlord is insistent on £40 for electricity, regardless of usage, then buy a couple of £10 fan heaters and use them for heating - or start growing some of 'those' plants!

Mylo_The_Moggy

It wouldn't surprise me if LL is taking the money & not paying it in at all. Possibly spending it on something else, hence the so-called 'debt' story from previous tenants.
He probably did the same to them then merely booted them out after 6 months when they sussed him.
It is the norm for tenants to sort out & pay utility bills such as gas & leccy.

And why would the insurance company need to get involved?

Sounds like he's pulling a fast one........

Richie-from-the-Boro

Chris842 wrote: »

Hi, ~~~ snip ~~~

Unless its written into your rental contract for the dwelling, you have the right to choose who supplies you and there's nothing the landlord can legally do about it.

If it is written into your rental contract for the dwelling your landlord can only [MRP] bill you for the gas or electricity you use, you should by law be given a totally separate bill for any other charges, admin, insurance, common lighting etc.

dogshome

Really strange
From what the OP has written, the landlord is very insistant that he pays the Elec bills and then re-bills Chris842 at a flat rate per month, but at the same time the L/lord is content that Chris842 sets up a directy billed account for the Gas. ? !

?'s
Is this flat just one of others in a building that still has just it's original Elec meter, or does the flat have it's own meter ?

Is the L/lords control of the Elec billing written into the lease, or was it a verbal condition mentioned at the lease signing.?

Has Chris842 had the correct paperwork explaining which official Agency is holding/registered his deposit.

Joyful

The first thing I would be checking is that you have an electric meter that only supplies you. I am assuming you are not connected to an electric heating system for all the flats? Sometimes also landlords fit sub meters which means they get the bills and then claim from the tenants.

If the electric meter is just for your property, take the readings and make sure you give them to the supplier and set up an account in your name. As it sounds like the landlord may be dodgy I would also take a photo of the meter and readings on moving in and out of the property so you cannot get stung with anyone else's debts.

datlex

I wouldn't like that at all, how do you know he is paying the bill?

Pincher

Don't forget if you have your own account, you have to pay the standing charge. It can be cheaper if there is only one account in the name of the landlord, so there is only one standing charge.

You can ask the neighbours, and the letting agent to explain what is going on.