7 months on I'm still paying for my neighbour's electricity

davietich

I would suggest the landlord should put a private meter in both premises and take over the suppliers meter in his name then it is his responsibility to pay the bill and collect an accurate split amount from both you and your neighbour, this is normal practice in our area and the landlord has to take responsibility - have a talk with the citizens advice bureuax.

lstar337

davietich wrote: »

I would suggest the landlord should put a private meter in both premises and take over the suppliers meter in his name then it is his responsibility to pay the bill and collect an accurate split amount from both you and your neighbour, this is normal practice in our area and the landlord has to take responsibility - have a talk with the citizens advice bureuax.

This is not ideal, and should not be allowed in my opinion. LL should not be trusted with such a responsibility, and it stops competitive switching.

Each property should have its own official meter.

Jmoo

I've had assurances someone high up within the company that acts as the Landlord that someone is getting an electrician out to find a swift (!) solution so that the new meter can be put in.


I am also looking at other properties because I'm not completely convinced by their handling of this matter, but even if I did that I'd still have issues, so there isn't an easy answer. Especially with little money to spend on legal action.

DavidP24

I would have electrician not only remove other wires but cut them short so they do not reach. Install a box around your meter and put a lock on it.

Put a lock on communal door, change the lock of communal entrance.

Get some grenades and take out the neighbour.

Actually if you just change or fit a proper lock on cupboard, then play frustration, turn off the power every day when you go out.

Then other guy has a reason to want the work done.

Is there a way to put a meter between the main one and your fuse box?

Then you pay for what you use

I know an energy company can only charge you for 12m if they do not have a meter for your property

You need to take this to ombudsman, refuse to pay any more bills and demand a 100% credit

This is the kind of case that is handled well by radio consumer shows, what County are you in?

I would take them to Court for what they have charged you thus far, make a video of cables now to use as evidence.

They are in breach of contract, they have a duty of care to provide accurate metering of your usage.

Send them the 14 day letter before action.

You might want to tell your landlord that in light of the confusion about responsibility you are paying rent into a suspense account to offset his liability in this matter.

Meanwhile, as there are other meters in the cupboard have your wires removed from metre and have them added to someone elses flat!!

davietich

This is not ideal, and should not be allowed in my opinion. LL should not be trusted with such a responsibility, and it stops competitive switching.

Each property should have its own official meter.


Totally agree it is not ideal but given the historical wiring and the supply companies refusal to install meter for other flat it would be an easy guick fix for the landlord and be a lot fairer for the tenant currently paying the bill who appears is being mucked about by the landlord.
I would also assume the landlord would sign up to the cheapest deal possible as he would be left with bill if any 'moonlight flits' occurred.
All in all a difficult situation. Davie

DavidP24

Not Ideal
Not Ideal
NOT IDEAL

Man that has to be #understatement of the year

I would be seething.

DavidP24

Yeh right and he would consider it another profit centre upping fees

The tenants have a right to choose low energy suppliers unless deal is like a housing assoc that gets them a deal lower than anything commercially available.

davietich wrote: »

I would suggest the landlord should put a private meter in both premises and take over the suppliers meter in his name then it is his responsibility to pay the bill and collect an accurate split amount from both you and your neighbour, this is normal practice in our area and the landlord has to take responsibility - have a talk with the citizens advice bureuax.

DavidP24

Jmoo

In my experience when Landlords are this sloppy they usually employ worst agents (most are terrible anyway) and are useless at pretty much everything else.

Were you been given Prescribed Information (offical doc) and Deposit Protection Certificate within 30 days of moving in?

Worth checking on DPS, TDS and MyDepsosits websites (is my deposit protected?)

If not protected then down the road you can get between 1x and 3x deposit plus your deposit back, depending of the severity.

If they just did it late then usually a 1x sanction, if they protect it just prior to issuing an S21 notice then 3x for sure.

Even if they protected it, they have to give you the Prescribed Information which is a seperate doc saying where it it is protected and the ref number, it is not enough to give the Deposit Certificate.

You do not have to find money for legal, just put money in savings account and inform Landlord that you are witholding rent in a suspense account as a lien on the costs you have incurred for which he is reponsible.

Also report it to your local Council Housing and Planning Control, chances are he breached building regs when place was built or converted. They will place an order on them to correct anything they find does not meet regulations.

Property may be listed as self contained flats or House of Multiple Occupancy, this may affect that and that may require he be licensed by Local Authority, he may be anyway depending on area and he may lose that license.

If your tenancy started after Oct 2015 he is not allowed to do revenge eviction for demanding works be done.

Jmoo wrote: »

I've had assurances someone high up within the company that acts as the Landlord that someone is getting an electrician out to find a swift (!) solution so that the new meter can be put in.


I am also looking at other properties because I'm not completely convinced by their handling of this matter, but even if I did that I'd still have issues, so there isn't an easy answer. Especially with little money to spend on legal action.