how to approach landlord suspected of using our electric...

rosyw

Your bill seems HUGE!! I'm in a 3 bed chalet bungalow, live on my own and am home most of the time, my electricity works out at about £25 a month! I have gas heating & a gas hob but use the electric oven most days, use my tumble dryer if need be etc., so in your position I'd be getting things checked ASAP!
It could of course be a problem with the meter, you'll probably have a battle on your hands to get it checked but my daughter had similar issues with a water meter at one time, when they eventually checked it was showing a huge amount of water had been used when they were away on holiday and had turned the supply off in the house! might be worth asking about?

ripplyuk

I wouldn't say anything to the landlord until/unless you can get some sort of proof.

Mine was a roughly similar situation and my previous landlord kept making excuses about why my bills were so high. I moved out after 14 years, new tenant moved in and noticed the same thing. She reported it and the electric company arranged for an engineer to call. Unfortunately she also told the landlord the engineer was coming and he promptly got his own guy out to sort it, so there was no proof.

She was given notice to quit a few days later. And she still has the huge bill in her name, which she's struggling to pay off. Without proof, the company wouldn't reduce it.

NYM

Is it really that expensive to run underfloor heating to one bedroom and bathroom?

How much is the electricity usage part of your duel fuel bill?

Have you asked the Co-Op to test the meter? Were the previous tenants up to date with their bills -or- was the meter preset to recover any overdue bills they owed?

mrmechanic

Switch of at fuse box as you leave for work and take a meter reading on your way out.
When you come home take another reading before you go into your flat.
If she is heating her part when she isn't there it will show up on your reading.
If she is only using electric when she is there you would need to try and plan the same when you know she is going to be in.
Then recheck when you come home, if she is waiting at the door for you coming home to tell you her house has no power you will also know that her feed is from your fusebox rather than bypassing it.

AlexMac

Empty your fridge and freezer, find your Consumer Unit ("fuse box" in oldspeak) and turn off all the electricity to your flat at the big red tripswitch. Preferably before going away for the weekend; if you are home, wear a wooly to avoid hypothermia, buy candles and charge your laptop or mobile prior to avoid boredom

Oh and if you think your landlord has access to the unit, stretch a hair across the switch (old James Bond trick)

Or look 'em in the eye as you ask- "are you using my electricity"? As any student of advanced psychology kno, their eyes will flit left, or their hand will dart to their mouth if they lie (unless they too are a student of body language?)

Mr.Generous

you said there are 4 meters, how many flats are there? if 4 then where is meter for landladys love nest?

Sadie23

mrmechanic wrote: »

Switch of at fuse box as you leave for work and take a meter reading on your way out.
When you come home take another reading before you go into your flat.
If she is heating her part when she isn't there it will show up on your reading.
If she is only using electric when she is there you would need to try and plan the same when you know she is going to be in.
Then recheck when you come home, if she is waiting at the door for you coming home to tell you her house has no power you will also know that her feed is from your fusebox rather than bypassing it.

from what she said when she offered for us to put a piece of furniture in there to store, she said it was on timed, i presume to ensure her belongings don't get damp ? so I'm guessing its been running for a few hours a day for the entire time she's not even here...

Sadie23

Mr.Generous wrote: »

you said there are 4 meters, how many flats are there? if 4 then where is meter for landladys love nest?

4 flats! hmmmmmmm

AnotherJoe

I once left the electric immersion heater in my hot water tank switched on by mistake for close to a month. Ouch. Check that if you have one.

Sadie23

NYM wrote: »

Is it really that expensive to run underfloor heating to one bedroom and bathroom?

How much is the electricity usage part of your duel fuel bill?

Have you asked the Co-Op to test the meter? Were the previous tenants up to date with their bills -or- was the meter preset to recover any overdue bills they owed?

For example in summer, my bill from 14th June - 14th July 730kwh were used. We were away for a week during this time!