Heating oil tank - LL or tenant?

DaftyDuck

G_M wrote: »

Mypoint about tenant sourcing the oil was just one objection to the "provide it empty/leave it empty" idea.

And the least important - it just seems more helpful as a LL tosupply somestrating oil,not an empty tank! If the tank had been empty, as in no oil, I would certainly have provided something like a hundred quid's worth of oil to start with... but I'm not going to fuss over charging the tenant for it... I'm not that puerile!

Far more relevant is the near-impossibility for a tenant to leave the tank empty at the end of the tenancy. It is almost certain that they will end up mis-judging how much they will need 3...6.. months in advance(when they last order oil) and either run out (causing airlocks etc aswell as a chilly last week or two) or end up leaving more oil than they started with. Possibly.... meh! Happens every time you sell or buy a house too....

Of course, as the landlord, I'm can see you would be only too happy if they left you with more oil than you had originally started them off with! (and suspect if they ran the tank dry you'd charge them via deposit for the engineer call-out fee...?). Win win! NO, ridiculous.... Firstly, the oil would be of no benefit to me, just to the next tenant (although I might save the £100 cost of start-up oil). I never had the problem of air-locks or engineer's visit, but still not win win in any way... HAD such a problem occurred, I can't see how it would profit me in any way whatsoever. Indeed, time off work for engineer to visit, chance of knock-on problems, chasing tenant for the costs (which I doubt would be easily deducted from a deposit, voids in rental to next person... no gain for me)

As for the cost per litre to use in any balancing of debt, you could specify whatever you like in the agreement :

* the price would be based on your village collective's price that week Which week - beginning or end of tenancy - and would it feel "fair" to either party if the cost shot up/down...?
* on a specific supplier you prefer Why my preferred supplier, not theirs? How are they to know it's a fair supplier....
*or even on the cheapest of, say, 3 named suppliers' prices the week the tenancy ends Getting more and more complex.... If tenant isn't familiar with oil, I suspect they are worried about exactly how honest I am with "shall be charged at the median delivered price for the remaining quantity of oil in the tank from the three specified suppliers, the price being quoted on the day the tenancy ends.."

Why should I restrict, in any way whatsoever, my tenant's choice of how to run/budget/organise their oil supply - especially when a LL cannot restrict changes to gas or electricity supply? Maybe they want to sign up for one of the pay monthly accounts, a "keep the tank from empty" scheme, or whatever. Up to them, their property for the duration, their freedom, and their responsibility...


Oddly enough, though, I always ensured there was a full load of logs for the fires. Now there, a "load" of logs is as large as the proverbial length of a string, and quality of contents as variable as posts on a forum. So, I always ensured my preferred supplier had filled up (only before winter, wouldn't bother if turn-around was in June). However, a log fire was (almost) an optional extra, and I certainly don't feel a tenant should have to scour the small ads in the local rag trying to work out how much 3 tonnes or two cubic yards was... or how much fitted in the shed - or what spat more than some!

Now, if a tenant was concerned about oil, who to order from, what to order, how much.... when... if... THEN I'd happily offer to help, order for them, or whatever....

Thing is, I've always liked and respected my tenants and, as far as I can tell, they've always liked and respected me back. NO fiddles, no gains. Bottles on arrival, present for me on leaving... Unusual maybe, but there you go.

DaftyDuck

gayleygoo wrote: »

As a tenant who's moved several times, oil tanks were always empty when we've moved in, and that has suited us fine - it's not difficult to figure out how to phone a company and get it delivered.

If there is oil in the tank and it came from a previous tenant, then it's a bonus that has cost the LL nothing. (The previous tenant could have chosen to siphon out the oil if the really wanted it) In the past four years I have lived in this house, the cost of heating oil has tripled and I wouldn't feel happy to pay the current price of fuel for what was bought back then, if we were to move out and had to pay back the oil to the same level.

It would be very helpful for a LL to supply some starting fuel, even if it's just enough to get them through the first week (since moving house is usually hell anyway), it would be a nice gesture if it were free though yes I know you don't get much for free these days, but it could be a good start in your relationship with the tenant!

Exactly this. Yes, always make sure the tenant is happy on moving in... that's to my benefit as LL. Make sure the grass is cut, so they don't have to do that (but I'm not leaving a "post-it" on the lawnmower telling tenant which way stripes should go), make sure there's a list of all the useful numbers (and a folder of all the take-aways that deliver )... and make sure there is some oil for a week or two (also that the leccy isn't cut off, the drains aren't blocked, and the water flows out of the taps... but, as a tenant, you are probably able to use the phone to call for oil... ... and I doubt you'd want a possible debit of £??.67p hanging over you when you move out....

Ivana_Tinkle

G_M wrote: »

Far more relevant is the near-impossibility for a tenant to leave the tank empty at the end of the tenancy. It is almost certain that they will end up mis-judging how much they will need 3...6.. months in advance(when they last order oil) and either run out (causing airlocks etc aswell as a chilly last week or two) or end up leaving more oil than they started with.

I don't think many people buy 3 or 6 months' worth of oil at a time, though. Our neighbours have oil-fired heating, and seem to get deliveries far more regularly than that - maybe once a month, at least during the winter.

DaftyDuck

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

I don't think many people buy 3 or 6 months' worth of oil at a time, though. Our neighbours have oil-fired heating, and seem to get deliveries far more regularly than that - maybe once a month, at least during the winter.

I think they have a leak! Or, they may well be on a "top-up scheme", where they pay in advance a fixed amount per month, and the oil co chooses when to fill or top them up - when they have spare capacity on a tanker, or the price at depot drops a little. It may not be the cheapest way, but it allows budgeting.

Most oil-heated places I've lived get a delivery twice over winter, with a max fill-up beforehand when you speculate the price is lowest... and you are usually wrong! It's cheaper the more you order; small tank, or third fill, and the price is quite a bit higher per litre.

G_M

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

I don't think many people buy 3 or 6 months' worth of oil at a time, though. Our neighbours have oil-fired heating, and seem to get deliveries far more regularly than that - maybe once a month, at least during the winter.

Depends on the size of tank. Mine is large and I fill it once a year.

A smaller tank might need filling 2ce, 3 or 4 times a year. Very few peope would buy more often than that (esp as small quantities are much more expensive to buy.

DaftyDuck- there are so many points in your last response I would take issue with, but clearly we are not going to agree, so I see no point in pursuing the discussion.


Adrian must make up his own mind how to manage his BTL best for his tenants.