Electric Meters

PoppyLurcher

hello everyone

I'm a newbie, so please forgive if I have posted in the wrong section of the forum.

I have a question relating to electric meters and access with in the property I live in.

I live in a block of 13 flats and all the electric meters are kept in a locked cupboard. As far as I am aware and have found out, non of us tenants have a key so we can not read our meters. We have easy access to our gas meters though.

I am having some billing issues and have requested several times access so I can read and indeed want monthly access so I can pay monthly as this is much more manageable for me. The requests appear to be falling on deaf ears somewhat as texts and voice mails go unanswered!

Could somebody please advise me if there is a legal obligation from my landlord/property manager to give all tenants access and a key so we may read our meters? If not please could you advise on what I can do?

Many thanks

Guest101

PoppyLurcher wrote: »

hello everyone

I'm a newbie, so please forgive if I have posted in the wrong section of the forum.

I have a question relating to electric meters and access with in the property I live in.

I live in a block of 13 flats and all the electric meters are kept in a locked cupboard. As far as I am aware and have found out, non of us tenants have a key so we can not read our meters. We have easy access to our gas meters though.

I am having some billing issues and have requested several times access so I can read and indeed want monthly access so I can pay monthly as this is much more manageable for me. The requests appear to be falling on deaf ears somewhat as texts and voice mails go unanswered!

Could somebody please advise me if there is a legal obligation from my landlord/property manager to give all tenants access and a key so we may read our meters? If not please could you advise on what I can do?

Many thanks

Write, pen and paper, and ask your landlord for access

PoppyLurcher

Really.. I'd never thought of doing that myself...

donfanatico

You said that you texted and left voicemails. This is not the same as writing a letter to the address provided on your tenancy for the purpose of serving notices.

I think (not 100% but someone will confirm) that they are legally obliged to give you access as the meters are owned by the utility company and must be accessible for inspections.

PoppyLurcher

Yes okay but I aren't asking about writing letters and the such... (Normally first line of approach therefore did not feel I needed to mention a common sense course of action) I wanted to know if there was an obligation and how I can enforce it if I can.

Inspections?? They haven't even had the gas boilers and such inspected this year!

donfanatico

PoppyLurcher wrote: »

Yes okay but I aren't asking about writing letters and the such... (Normally first line of approach therefore did not feel I needed to mention a common sense course of action) I wanted to know if there was an obligation and how I can enforce it if I can.

Inspections?? They haven't even had the gas boilers and such inspected this year!

No, the utility company wants to read meter at least once every two years unless you provide them regular reading hence they would expect access.

Normally if a meter is locked there is a window through which you can read it?

PoppyLurcher

Eon chap was outside the other night. He has no key and no window to look through.

thesaint

They have no obligation to provide you with a key.

Guest101

thesaint wrote: »

They have no obligation to provide you with a key.

Agreed, but they should give access to read it

Guest101

PoppyLurcher wrote: »

Really.. I'd never thought of doing that myself...

Well clearly you haven't, Uve texted and called...

PoppyLurcher

NO obligation??? Then how are we meant to read our electricity meters for accurate billing?