Faulty Meter box - Landlord or Tenant liability?!

croylady

Hi,

The day before moving out of our rented property we noticed the electric/gas meter was faulty and we couldn't take a reading. We contacted the supplier and they said it would take 10 days to send an engineer.

The landlord has said that he couldn't rent the property to another tenant and that we are financially liable for his 'missed' rent from his prospective tenant for those 10 days whilst we didn't have the final meter reading.

Is the landlord correct? Can he deduct this from our deposit? It doesn't seem very fair to me.

Thanks for your help!

princeofpounds

of course he isn't correct

Section 11 landlord and tenant act 1985 on the duties of landlords:

2. To keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling for the supply of water gas and electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for the making use of the supply of water gas or electricity)

Edit to add: I'm sure you acted in a 'tenant-like manner' and reported the fault as soon as you noticed it.

Pixie5740

The LL is talking out his hoop. You not be able to provide a meter reading because the meter is faulty doesn't prevent him from letting the property to another tenant. Your only repos sibilants is to report the repair to the LL.

45002

croylady wrote:

Hi,

The day before moving out of our rented property we noticed the electric/gas meter was faulty and we couldn't take a reading. We contacted the supplier and they said it would take 10 days to send an engineer.

The landlord has said that he couldn't rent the property to another tenant and that we are financially liable for his 'missed' rent from his prospective tenant for those 10 days whilst we didn't have the final meter reading.

Is the landlord correct? Can he deduct this from our deposit? It doesn't seem very fair to me.

Thanks for your help!

How can a gas and electric meter Both be faulty at the same time and what are the faults exactly !

Did you take any pictures of these faulty meters ?

Beckyy

No.

Have you already moved out?
When was your last meter reading? Take photos if you havent left yet.

Has you deposit been placed into one of the tenancy deposit schemes?

croylady

Hi,

Yes, the deposit is protected. We had already moved out when I posted.

I did take a pic of the meter (its the electric meter, I couldn't remember which one it was when I posted initially) but it was just flashing blank.

An engineer installed a new one on the 7th Oct and I took pics of that reading, and his sign off sheet too.

Thank you very much for your replies, I feel more confident that we can't be taken advantage of. I shall let you know what happens

stator

Another delboy trotter landlord, what a surprise!

Good luck