Communal Meter Cupboard

Ed_Zep

Hi,

I've just moved into a rented flat and it looks as though there's a communal electricity meter.

I've never rented before but it seems odd because surely I'll be paying on average for others' usage?

Does anyone know how the bills are calculated, please. Is it simply an average?

Do I have to let the energy company know its a communal one?

Thanks,

Ed.

ilikewatch

Are you sure that the meter you've found isn't just for communal areas such as hallways and stairwells? Why not speak to some other residents to establish how individual usage is calculated.

[Deleted User]

Ed_Zep wrote: »

Hi,

I've just moved into a rented flat and it looks as though there's a communal electricity meter.

I've never rented before but it seems odd because surely I'll be paying on average for others' usage?

Does anyone know how the bills are calculated, please. Is it simply an average?

Do I have to let the energy company know its a communal one?

Thanks,

Ed.

i would be very surprised if there is a single meter only. is your rent inclusive of electric? it would be in your tenancy agreement. communal meter cupboards could be anywhere in the building , in a separate locked meter room at rear for example. knock on flat next door and ask

macman

More likely a communal meter cupboard-to which you must enforce your right of access.
The only point with these is to ensure that the correct meter is registered to your property-easily tested.
If there were a single meter, there could only be one account, and it would be in your STA as to how the bills were divided. The supplier does not care how the bills are divided-that's a third party matter. There is no 'average' as there is only one bill-the supplier won't divide it up among each tenant.
Such an arrangement would only be found in a bodged or 'unofficial' conversion where the wiring and metering has not been properly divided.