Contract question (nightmare letting agent/landlord)

G_M

Does each flat have a seperate electricity meter?

What does the tenancy agreement say about electricity?

Who/how have you been paying till now?

Why do (did) you think you needed the LL's (agent's) consent to change supplier?

What 'information' did you need from the agent to set the account up?

iviv

G_M wrote: »

Does each flat have a seperate electricity meter?

What does the tenancy agreement say about electricity?

Who/how have you been paying till now?

Why do (did) you think you needed the LL's (agent's) consent to change supplier?

What 'information' did you need from the agent to set the account up?

Yes, each flat does have a separate meter. However, the meter does not appear to have been registered. EDF don't recognise the number, though I had one of their guys around last week to look at it and confirm that it was indeed one of their meters, but it hadn't been installed by one of their installers.
Because it wasn't registered , Eon weren't able to set up an account for me, and instead asked for some details of the main landlord's meter for the main supply into the building, which is what I requested with no answer. (For clarity, Eon are the supplier I have an account with and want to switch to. EDF have their name on the meter and EDF seem to run the network in this area of London, which is where they come into this).

The tenancy says nothing, simply that '... The tenant agreeing to pay "the rent" inclusive of business rates and water rates consumed on the property.'
Whereas in the previous agreement the electric rates were also mentioned.

Before now, the landlord paid it as part of my rent. I didn't need their consent to change the supplier, but since I was told I was going to have to pay, I wanted to switch to the best deal. But had I not tried to switch then I wouldn't have had all the stress of trying to get meter access, get meter numbers, meet with meter readers and so on. And once this gets sorted out I might be the only person paying for their electricity in the building, with everyone else still getting theirs paid by the landlord.

Viberduo

Hmmm, I know in past I have lived in properties where the landlord has installed their own meters then charged extra for the convenience, in that case though he just claimed it was a family house(it was a large house with about 10 large bedrooms and 3 bathrooms converted to bedsits) and paid the bill then charged everyone higher unit rates then he paid.

The bare copper wire could be their way of bypassing the official meter to get free electric

CreditCrunchie

I believe it is illegal to cut off a tenant's electricity (or water). If I were you I would speak with Shelter about this as you could in fact be entitled to compensation.

iviv

CreditCrunchie wrote: »

I believe it is illegal to cut off a tenant's electricity (or water). If I were you I would speak with Shelter about this as you could in fact be entitled to compensation.

There's never been a mention or threat of the supply bring cut off. Essentially all that is going to be happening is that I will be paying for the electricity for my flat, while everyone else in the block of flats won't be, since they didn't try to switch suppliers when they were told they would have to pay. I switched, so am paying. But had I not switched then I wouldn't be paying, like everyone else.

NVRAM

I think they were referencing when the electricty was off.

Why would you expect the LL to compensate for fridge/freezers good lost during the installation?

Surely if anyone the registered company that installed the meters would be the ones to look at?

So the transported for your area is EDF... who say they didn't install the meters? That'll start alarms bells instantly.

iviv

NVRAM wrote: »

I think they were referencing when the electricty was off.

Why would you expect the LL to compensate for fridge/freezers good lost during the installation?

Surely if anyone the registered company that installed the meters would be the ones to look at?

So the transported for your area is EDF... who say they didn't install the meters? That'll start alarms bells instantly.

We were told the power would be off for 30 minutes while they installed the meters. And throughout the day they were insistent it would just be 30-60 minutes more. The people who did the work had no uniform in a blank white van and fairly limited grasp of English. So I'm pretty certain they were some people who agreed to do it dirt cheaply.

NVRAM

Then I think you need to look at speaking to or reporting your LL
Works to gas/electric mains are only to be done by registered installers.

iviv

So I would be allowed to request to see the certificates of whoever did the install? Though you did say mains, does that jurisdiction stop when the supply enters the building?

NVRAM

I would expect it to.

Hang on...
Something I've just thought of.
Does the LL intend to bill you for electricity used seperatley to rent?