Utilities through our Landlord

EmsLdn

jjlandlord wrote: »

This is not a question of deposit protection or of restriction on resale of energy.

OP has said it all himself:


Yes, you should have saved the money.
If now you are hit with a large bill, in arrear so in fact to your advantage, tough.

Sorry, jjlandlord, I'm not sure I understand the last line of your comment. How is this situation in any way to our advantage?

PasturesNew

I'd imagine it's all running off one meter, one account, still in the LL's name, covering both flats and the OP's annexe. But he should be efficient in executing the system he's set in place.

There's loads of this "shared meter" business going on - in thousands and thousands of small flatlets, annexes, legal and illegal sub-divides, sheds etc.

Annie1960

You LL sounds very dodgy. Has he ever given an explanation of why you cannot pay your own electric bill? I cannot think of any legitimate reason for the way he is doing things, but perhaps he can explain it.

It is pretty outrageous expecting you to pay a whole year's electricity bill all in one go.

As others have said, claim your deposit back immediately when your tenancy ends.

jjlandlord

It does not matter in whose name the bill from the energy supplier is.
If the agreement is that OP is responsible for the electricity bill, then he is.

The landlord might be trying to make a profit on this but it is secondary to what OP is worrying about, which is to be billed once at the end of his tenancy instead of periodically throughout.

There's nothing to be said on that. As said OP should have budgeted and set money aside every month to cover the eventual bill.
Tough if he didn't.

Especially since being bill at the end was quite obviously to his advantage since the landlord was giving him credit and allowing him to hold on the money for longer.

It would have been 'outrageous' to demand payment for the year in advance.
Demanding it in arrear is the best possible deal, better than if OP had to pay the supplier directly.

RAS

But it is quite possible that the OP is paying the electricity for the whole property and then the LL is charging the other tenants for their usage as well?

OP - what is the situation regarding Council Tax?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

jjlandlord wrote: »

It does not matter in whose name the bill from the energy supplier is.
If the agreement is that OP is responsible for the electricity bill, then he is.

Having worked for an energy supplier, let me assure you they don't see it that way.

jjlandlord

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Having worked for an energy supplier, let me assure you they don't see it that way.

It is irrelevant.
I'll repeat: if the agreement is that OP is responsible for the electricity bill then he is. If the landlord is paying the energy supplier, and is liable to them, then OP is liable to the landlord.

That's it. This is not arguable.

RAS

jjlandlord wrote: »

It is irrelevant.
I'll repeat: if the agreement is that OP is responsible for the electricity bill then he is. If the landlord is paying the energy supplier, and is liable to them, then OP is liable to the landlord.

That's it. This is not arguable.

Providing that the LL is complying with the re-selling rules.

jjlandlord

RAS wrote: »

Providing that the LL is complying with the re-selling rules.

No. If he is not then OP is still of course liable but only up to what is permissible.

That does not change the root of OP's original worry, does it?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

jjlandlord wrote: »

No. If he is not then OP is still of course liable but only up to what is permissible.

That does not change the root of OP's original worry, does it?

It also doesn't change my original advice - don't pay until they see a bill from the energy supplier.