Landlord doesn't want to give me the electricity meter readings

TroyBow

I have recently moved home and my previous landlord is not willing to give me the electricity meter readings for any obscure reason.

The problem is that EON did estimations very very far away from the real use (I'm sure that somehow the landlord knows this fact) and EON told me that if the landlord doesn't give me the meter reading they will take that estimation as "correct".

What options do I have? Would it be possible to request a reading to EON?

matelodave

It's up to you to read the meter when you take over a tenancy and open an account in your name and then for you to read the meter when you leave a close the account.

You should never ever rely on someone else doing it. You can ask EON to read the meter but I don't think that they are obliged to do it. Without your readings they will make an estimate and you have no way of contesting it

energyworker

TroyBow wrote: »

I have recently moved home and my previous landlord is not willing to give me the electricity meter readings for any obscure reason.

The problem is that EON did estimations very very far away from the real use (I'm sure that somehow the landlord knows this fact) and EON told me that if the landlord doesn't give me the meter reading they will take that estimation as "correct".

What options do I have? Would it be possible to request a reading to EON?

Do you not have access to the meter?

Your landlord sounds shifty, if the account is in your name please insist on the landlord giving you access to the meter. The liability for everything lies with you financially. If there is a dispute the energy company won't get involved, they will just state that it is your responsibility to keep the details and readings on your account correct.

macman

Why didn't you read the meter yourself when you left? It is not the job of the LL to do this (though why he should object to doing so now is beyond me). If he won't do so, how about asking the new tenants?
If you haven't read the meter, how can you know what the 'real use' is?

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Good morning TroyBow and welcome to the forum.

Thank you guys for all of the info already

First of all, did you read the meter when you moved out of the property? Is the account in your name and have you received the final bill?

If the account is in your name and you've read the meter, you can give us the meter reading, this should fall in line with the start read for the new tenant.

If the land lord has given us your final read because you didn't read the meter then we'll use this read to close the account to. If no one gives a meter reading to close the account to, then yes, we have to use an estimate.

If you've now moved out and the account is closed, we won't book an appointment to read the meter for you. We would however, book one for the new tenants.

This does lean towards a third party dispute really, we can only go on the information provided to us and if we're not provided with meter reads for move in and out dates, we will use estimates.

Thanks

Helena