Being Charged Over £60 to Light Hallways

pennypincher3562

Hi

I've just got a bill in from my property managers (block of flats.) It was the biggest bill I've received since moving here (£287 for the quarter.)

I decided to examine each item, and noticed the electricity bill was over £60 for the communal areas (lighting, lift, and water pump.) Most of this amount seemed to fall under the lighting category.

Does this sound right? Considering that there is probably around 30 people in the block, this will mean that the total quarterly electricity bill for the building will be around £1500-1800!?

It sounds like a lot for stair lighting to me. Is anybody else out there paying as much to keep their communal hall ways lighted?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

stator

Demand that they send you a copy of the electricity bill

Cardew

Is the electricity bill itemised for everything?


In my daughter's flat there was 24 hour lighting in the garage.


There were sockets in the 'common parts' for the cleaners. It is not beyond some people to plug in a fan heater for their flat.

pennypincher3562

Thanks for the ideas so far. The electricity charges are broken down into 3 parts:

1) Lift electricity - £0.61
2) Water Pump - £6.79
3) Misc Electrical - £54.79

The 3rd entry has to be lighting as there are no other electrical devices in the communal areas. Yes it is possible to plug something into a socket in the hallway, but I think it would be noticed pretty fast.

I find it very odd I get charged 61p for a lift (imagine the power it uses,) yet £54.79 for lights.

I could be wrong on this one, but I feel a need an eye on the property managers, as they do make mistakes.

I am going to ask the managers, what the electricity bill was in previous years, and if there is a massive jump something is up.

I am paying £120 per quarter for gas and electricity for my own property, and now over £60 for the hallways.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

victor2

If they've broken the electricity cost down so that lighting is separate, just take a count of the number of lights. Are they on 24/7? You can probably find out the wattage of the bulbs used by looking yourself or asking a maintenance person, so it isn't difficult to work out a worst case consumption if all the lights were on all the time. If you can also see a copy of their electricity bill, you will see what they are paying (VAT may well be 20% on commercial premises).
For example, 20 60watt bulbs on 24/7 would use 20 x 60 x 24/1000 = 28.8kWh per day.
If the figures do come out somewhere near what the residents are being charged, then it's reasonable. You could then look at suggesting to the property managers that they install energy efficient lighting if they haven't already...

anna42hmr

Is it definitly the electrical bill itself, they have not had to get in electricians etc to do some work on the property and that's why it is under miscellaneous?

Also do you have electric running in the garages with sockets as well as lights- if so any of your neighbours bought a new electric car and using that supply to charge it?

pennypincher3562

I have just spoken to the property manager, and they have given me a valid explanation.

It's due to the timing of the meter reading (it hardly ever gets read.) The meter reading lead to an unusually high bill this month, but it will supposedly even out over the year.

I've seen the same thing happen in my flat, if I fail to take meter readings regularly. So, I suppose this is a valid explanation.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562