Utilities through our Landlord

DRP

If everything is above board and the LL is accurately and honestly sub-dividing the cost, then he should have no problem supplying a copy of the original & his calculations.

That would be the obvious, transparent way to go about it.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

OP if you are confused by the difference of opinion expressed here you may want to check with CAB. It appears to hinge on the presence of original utility bills to the LL.

Obviously you need to be prepared for what you legitimately owe by the end of the tenancy, but don't feel bullied into paying a LL's made up bill, and don't be scared of possible court proceedings. Ask for everything in writing and keep all paperwork.

jjlandlord

OK, last post from me:

1. OP only asked about have to pay large bills because the landlord was billing him rather rarely.
There is nothing to be done on that. He should have saved the money and being billed in arrears is in fact to his advantage.

Regarding the rest of the 'debate':

2. In order to assert that the bill OP receives from the landlord is indeed correct, he has the right to ask how the landlord is calculating his bill and copies of the bills the landlord gets from his energy supplier.

3. If there is no individual meter the landlord may use a reasonable method to apportion his cost and bill accordingly.

4. In any case OP has no right to withhold payment, and the landlord can take him to court if he does and he will lose. Of course the landlord will have to disclose the documents from (2) in court (already said).

Everything else is just the usual fluff mixed with the usual anti-landlord behaviour from some and nonsense from others (e.g. below)

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

44 posts, but finally we reach consensus that the LL needs to produce a bill.

dodger1

It seems to me that the only worry that OP has is having enough money to pay the electricity bill as it will be for around 11 months. OP does not appear to think they are being overcharged. OP as you have paid a deposit and if you can't afford the bill but are happy with the amount, tell your landlord to take the money from the deposit. Just make sure the final bill states "final bill" or something similar.

If you are happy you haven't been ripped off and landlord has given receipts for the electricity payments much of what has been written in this thread is irrelevant to your situation. I'm sure many tenants and landlords have agreements in place that while not strictly legal work for both parties.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

dodger1 wrote: »

It seems to me that the only worry that OP has is having enough money to pay the electricity bill as it will be for around 11 months. OP does not appear to think they are being overcharged. OP as you have paid a deposit and if you can't afford the bill but are happy with the amount, tell your landlord to take the money from the deposit. Just make sure the final bill states "final bill" or something similar.

If you are happy you haven't been ripped off and landlord has given receipts for the electricity payments much of what has been written in this thread is irrelevant to your situation. I'm sure many tenants and landlords have agreements in place that while not strictly legal work for both parties.

If that's the only worry the OP has then it belongs in the energy sub-forum - where standard advice is to budget monthly for these eventualities, and that standard industry practise allows the debt to be repaid over at least the period it was accrued.

The body of the OP's original post suggests other issues, for which the rest of the advice given by various people is pertinent.

Do many tenants and LLs really have such arrangements? I've found it to be particularly uncommon - why would any sensible LL encumber themselves with a layer of often time consuming admin for which they are by law not allowed to gain a pecuniary advantage?

dodger1

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

If that's the only worry the OP has then it belongs in the energy sub-forum - where standard advice is to budget monthly for these eventualities, and that standard industry practise allows the debt to be repaid over at least the period it was accrued.

The body of the OP's original post suggests other issues, for which the rest of the advice given by various people is pertinent.

Do many tenants and LLs really have such arrangements? I've found it to be particularly uncommon - why would any sensible LL encumber themselves with a layer of often time consuming admin for which they are by law not allowed to gain a pecuniary advantage?

Have to say rereading the op her main worry is paying the bill, the only other problem was the delay in getting the bills. There is nothing to suggest anything else. I agree, what's the point of the LL doing this but if OP is happy with the actual amounts then in her situation that's the only worry.

Marvel1

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.

I would want to see the bill to see if I'm charged correctly

jjlandlord

dodger1 wrote: »

Have to say rereading the op her main worry is paying the bill, the only other problem was the delay in getting the bills.

Ah but you read and understood OP's post. That's a rare quality

dodger1

cjdavies wrote: »

I would want to see the bill to see if I'm charged correctly

And that's fair enough, we aren't all the same though, if I thought the amount looked about right (or under) based on experience I might be fine about it.