Tenant moved in without telling me, didnt read meter

jd87

Why are you attempting to manage a property which is 40 miles away? What are you going to do if ever there's an emergency? Do you think you are being fair on your tenant here? How are you ever going to provide an appropriate level of property management? Your one-bed flat might be a nice little investment for you, but it is your tenant's home and they are paying you to properly maintain it and I don't see how you can possibly do this from 40 miles away.

fairy_lights

Wait, what? How could neither you or the agency know when he moved in? Surely you had to give him the keys?

Hoploz

1) It would be normal to read the meters when tenants move out. If empty its going to be around the same figure.
2) I would expect an inventory on entry, either by landlord or agent. Was this done? Another opportunity to read the meter.
3) New bill is estimated so incorrect anyway. Tenant is responsible and should have already opened their own account. If they have a brain they will have taken a reading themselves on check in.

All tenant actually needs to do is read the meter and give this to the electric co.

Any use prior to them occupying is not their worry.

When I took over after tenants were in one of my properties the energy firm sent me angry letters demanding payment of a bill they had made up entirely (property had been empty 6 weeks and they decide the bill was over £100 for this period!) Tried to chase me for a stupid amount of money they had made up at random! I got it sorted no probs just a couple of phone calls and some threats about leaving. Sure your tenant will do the same.

tlc678910

Hi,
In my opinion constructive advice would be, as the meters were not read at the date at the start of the tenancy (by you, the agent or the tenant) ask the tenant to read the meters and to ring the readings through (to you and the utility companies) starting today - they could even photo the meters on a smart phone and email to you if you ask nicely.

Pick up one week of their utility use yourself. Don't be annoyed. A small oversight on your tenant's part has meant they did not read the meter. A small oversight on yours has meant you didn't either (or organise for it to be done).

Put it down to experience. If one week of utility use is a huge deal to you then you are in for an interesting ride as a landlord! As mentioned you are attempting to long distance manage a property without an agent and so you will need a good relationship with your tenant and perhaps a little more proactive approach.

Tlc

Mossfarr

jd87 wrote: »

Why are you attempting to manage a property which is 40 miles away? What are you going to do if ever there's an emergency? Do you think you are being fair on your tenant here? How are you ever going to provide an appropriate level of property management? Your one-bed flat might be a nice little investment for you, but it is your tenant's home and they are paying you to properly maintain it and I don't see how you can possibly do this from 40 miles away.

Absolute rubbish, 40 miles is less than an hour by car. Some professional landlords have properties all over the country which they manage just fine.

jd87

Mossfarr wrote: »

Absolute rubbish, 40 miles is less than an hour by car. Some professional landlords have properties all over the country which they manage just fine.

You think the OP sounds professional?:rotfl:

Guest101

thestens wrote: »

I used an agency to find a new tenant for my one bed flat . Tenant signed up, checked, paid rent, said was moving in in a few days. I asked the letting agency to find out the exact date but he didnt reply to their phone calls. As I only employed them to find the tenant, its now down to me.
2 days ago he rang me to tell me that he'd received an electricity bill at the property for £120. He had moved in a week before, not told me and not read the meter. Had I known he was moving in, I would either have got a reading from him or done it myself.
I have tried to call him several times to tell him to read the meter but his phone just goes to answerphone. I don't really want to go over as its 40 miles away and he may not be in when I get there.
I've been in touch with the electricity company and the bill is estimated for the end of the last tenancy ( meter was read then). So once I get an accurate reading it can be sorted out. But how do I work out how much the tenant owes from 24th Dec? The flat is all electric.
I'm pretty annoyed about the whole business, but unsure exactly how to proceed!! Surely a tenant should inform the landlord of the date he plans to move in??

Surely you as the LL should know?


Don't blame the tenant for your failing.


The tenant owes you nothing for the electricity. But presumably you took readings when you marketed the property and that should not have gone up?

dobymicks

When you say you are pretty annoyed I presume you mean at yourself for not having the bases covered.

Text/phone the tenant and ask for the current readings and the readings on the bill.
Write off the costs from 24th Dec till now. (it cant be that much) if you are feeling like him out of "A Christmas Carol" then negotiate a fee that you both think is fair.

New start without animosity. :-)

stator

Let the energy company worry about it. It's not your problem. They are quite good at guessing these things

G_M

I think the OP has been driven off........