Gas meter

rustie

Hi all - we own a flat which is rented out. The gas meter / supply was fully paid for and no arrears on the account.
2 weeks ago, the gas meter was removed from the flat - the 'gas' company got access to the flat when it was empty and the first we knew about it was a phone call from our letting agent to say the gas meter had been removed "it was an old / unsupported meter and a new one would need to be installed".

Question - are they allowed to access an empty flat and if so, arent they supposed to inform the landlord?? How did they get in?

Now the gas co is saying they cant install a new one in same place as it is "too high off the floor to be safely read" ...???? And the final straw - instead of installing it today (we have a new tenant due in on 1st March) they are saying the earliest it will be is the end of March.

Several calls to various people have drawn a blank - I've tried the supplier -"nope, not us" I've tried the National Grid - "not us - we only do pipes"

Help anyone???
Thanks

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

rustie wrote: »

Hi all - we own a flat which is rented out. The gas meter / supply was fully paid for and no arrears on the account.
2 weeks ago, the gas meter was removed from the flat - the 'gas' company got access to the flat when it was empty and the first we knew about it was a phone call from our letting agent to say the gas meter had been removed "it was an old / unsupported meter and a new one would need to be installed".

Question - are they allowed to access an empty flat and if so, arent they supposed to inform the landlord?? How did they get in?

Now the gas co is saying they cant install a new one in same place as it is "too high off the floor to be safely read" ...???? And the final straw - instead of installing it today (we have a new tenant due in on 1st March) they are saying the earliest it will be is the end of March.

Several calls to various people have drawn a blank - I've tried the supplier -"nope, not us" I've tried the National Grid - "not us - we only do pipes"

Help anyone???
Thanks

The meter is the responsibility of the supplier. Indeed, it's their property, so they can enter your property (assuming they are either invited in, or have a warrant) to make whatever changes to it they wish.

You say your calls drew a blank, but also say the supplier is fitting one at the end of March? There's your answer?

Drifting away from my area, but I think one of the very few things that LL's are obliged to provide by statute is a method of heating the flat - get some cheap electric heaters for £20.

footyguy

rustie wrote: »

Hi all - we own a flat which is rented out. The gas meter / supply was fully paid for and no arrears on the account.
2 weeks ago, the gas meter was removed from the flat - the 'gas' company got access to the flat when it was empty and the first we knew about it was a phone call from our letting agent to say the gas meter had been removed "it was an old / unsupported meter and a new one would need to be installed".

Question - are they allowed to access an empty flat and if so, arent they supposed to inform the landlord?? How did they get in?

Now the gas co is saying they cant install a new one in same place as it is "too high off the floor to be safely read" ...???? And the final straw - instead of installing it today (we have a new tenant due in on 1st March) they are saying the earliest it will be is the end of March.

Several calls to various people have drawn a blank - I've tried the supplier -"nope, not us" I've tried the National Grid - "not us - we only do pipes"

Help anyone???
Thanks

They need an entry warrant to gain access to inside the flat. Magistrates grant these, but don't do so at the drop of a hat. Energy providers don't go willy-nilly asking for them - there must have been many unanswered requests to contact them.
They will attempt to contact the account holder, not necessarily the landlord.

But as you are the landlord, and the property is untenanted, then you are responsible for the utilities, and so should ne the account holder. You can give a supplier a mailing address (such as your actual home address) where they can reach you.

Refer to any agreement with the letting agent (if any) for any responsibilty they may have.

Does your insurance company know the property is unoccupied?

Access (with an entry warrant) is usually performed with the help of a locksmith who will not only provide access to the earrant holder, but will also leave the property secure on leaving.

If you've entered into a tenancy agreement with a new tenant from Sunday (Sunday???), which presumably was supposed to be including a live gas supply, and you are obviously unable to provide that on that date, you need to be talking with the tenant and making suitable alternative arrangements with them as a matter of urgency.
(Again, if you have a letting agent, refer to such agreement and see if they are obliged, or otherwise are in a position, to assist you)

Cardew

Surely it was your letting agent let them gain entry? He acts on your behalf.


Have they given a reason why a new meter cannot be fitted until the end of March?

[Deleted User]

Sounds like there was a warrant of entry and that entitles them ( that is the RPU officer ) to go in without permission. I would nt be surprised if the meter they took away was some substituted meter bought off ebay and the original ( most likely a prepay ) also sold or used as a substitute after it was "doctored "
I been reading meters all day today positioned all over, including almost at ground level indeed I ve read many even below floor level down a foot or so which I can only read with a mirror, so I m not buying that excuse for installing a meter that it was too low.
I ve heard this about the supplier "owning " the meter but most meters have things like "property of National Grid " on the gas meter. Maybe the suppliers rent the meter from NG , which is a form of ownership I suppose
To the OP, just because the gas supply was fully paid for and not in arrears does nt mean the tenant has nt been bypassing the meter in situ somehow, either by substitution or other means. The landlords have no responsibility in how the tenants manage their bills or even if they tamper the meters .Most tampers can be hard to spot

macman

Previous tenant may have been denying access for a meter safety check, which is required every two years. In such cases they can and will get a warrant and force entry. How long was the last tenant in residence?

Cardew

The fact that a new meter is not going to be available for two months from, when the old one was removed, lends weight to the theory above about tampering/substitution.

[Deleted User]

macman wrote: »

Previous tenant may have been denying access for a meter safety check, which is required every two years. In such cases they can and will get a warrant and force entry. How long was the last tenant in residence?

No chance of that happening macman, suppliers dont hold to the two year rule much, BG can go 5 years. Spending money on warrants and locksmiths is a last resort and no court will grant a warrant on a two year inspection over run, RPU will quickly get a warrant on evidence from a meter reader or other source , of meter tampering. After checking their payment history. the offending meter is then removed and maybe the supply capped. Possibly, if the property has a history of gas meter tampers, ( three tampers) the supply will only be reinstated until all estimated losses are made good . Landlords should be aware of the possibility of this happening and keep an eye on what tenants get up to. I ve just managed , after 7 years of theft of gas, to get one council tenants supply removed and capped pending a large repayment due to Scottish Power.