Meter Replacement: How long can I put off (linked to neighbour from hell)

electricity_meter_problem

EDF wants to replace my meter. But due to a legal nightmare with my neighbour I need to put it off. What happens in the end if I am repeatedly not in when the installer comes?

I live in a studio flat in a house. The rest of the house was two flats but my neighbour has made them one dwelling. For unknown reasons after building control finished they messed with my electricity, with the result that my lighting circuit is on theirs. They point blank assert the mess up is my liability--and so I must pay for its correction (replacing the laminate flooring under which the circuits are buried will be several thousand).

Unfortunately, the fuse for my meter is not adjacent to it. An electrician from the direction of the cable suggests it is in my neigbour's property.

I have asked but they refused to say anything unless I agree to liability. It goes with saying this is not a matter I talk over with them.

Obviously, I need to get in solicitors. But I need time.

How much delay time do I have? What happens if I persistently refuse to have the meter changed. I have had one visit (I was not in). Do they allow three say and then send a legal letter. Or what?

Should I phone an explain my situation?

I would appreciate advice--I would normally want the meter replaced.

electricity_meter_problem

I forgot to add EDF want to replace it as "The period that your meter is certified as reliable will shortly end".

Again I would appreciate help.

Raxiel

Yes, you should tell EDF.

If they're just wanting to get a smart meter swap for their quota, it will probably put them off. But if they want to replace the meter because it's end of life they will continue to insist it's done. They may eventually cut off supply if they can't (but that's not something they'll do lightly).

Let them know the situation and let them decide how to handle it. They may send a fitter anyway, in which case try and be in for them when they do. If they can't fit it as-is, let them knock on the neighbours door and ask for access, and if that goes nowhere let them write your neighbour a letter about it.

If nothing else it gets you evidence of unreasonable behaviour on their part.

electricity_meter_problem

Thanks Raxiel for supportive reply, I have no desire to be unreasonable about this. Ironically, I would like it replaced except for the complications with my neighbour. Much appreciated.

Smodlet

This may not be relevant but, unless your neighbour is also the owner of the property and therefore your landlord (I assume you rent?) I wonder if they had permission to knock two flats into one. If they did this without the owner's permission, you could inform the owner and open up a world of pain for them and get your meter problem resolved into the bargain.

Sorry if this is of no help whatsoever and I really hope you find a cheap (or free) solution soon.

footyguy

electricity_meter_problem wrote: »

EDF wants to replace my meter. But due to a legal nightmare with my neighbour I need to put it off. What happens in the end if I am repeatedly not in when the installer comes?

I live in a studio flat in a house. The rest of the house was two flats but my neighbour has made them one dwelling. For unknown reasons after building control finished they messed with my electricity, with the result that my lighting circuit is on theirs. They point blank assert the mess up is my liability--and so I must pay for its correction (replacing the laminate flooring under which the circuits are buried will be several thousand).

Unfortunately, the fuse for my meter is not adjacent to it. An electrician from the direction of the cable suggests it is in my neigbour's property.

I have asked but they refused to say anything unless I agree to liability. It goes with saying this is not a matter I talk over with them.

Obviously, I need to get in solicitors. But I need time.

How much delay time do I have? What happens if I persistently refuse to have the meter changed. I have had one visit (I was not in). Do they allow three say and then send a legal letter. Or what?

Should I phone an explain my situation?

I would appreciate advice--I would normally want the meter replaced.

You can explain to your supplier whatever you want, but they won't be interested.

The situation legally is that if you are the account holder, then any electricity recorded as passing though your meter is your responsibilty to pay for to the supplier.

You should seek legal advice on how the situation arose and hence your chances of recovering any of that money from others. (or indeed owing money to others)

As the account holder, you have a responsibility to allow the supplier access to their meter - if you don't, they can go as far as seeking a warrant to allow them to gain access, and that is not cheap (and will be added to your bill)

electricity_meter_problem

The irony is that the meter is in the common parts so they can gain access by ringing my neighbour's doorbell --a bell they will have to press to get access to the fuse needed to replace the meter. My electrician said all I need do was provide access--if they could not do it for any reason outside my control, I had done all that I was required to.

I rather suspect (and hope) given there is a safety issue they could get a warrant for access to anyone i.e my neighbour if they have reasonable grounds to believe that it was needed to do their work.

But I have no intention to frustrate. What I need to know how much time do I have to get solicitors to work out the problems.

Raxiel

footyguy wrote: »

You can explain to your supplier whatever you want, but they won't be interested.

The situation legally is that if you are the account holder, then any electricity recorded as passing though your meter is your responsibilty to pay for to the supplier.

You should seek legal advice on how the situation arose and hence your chances of recovering any of that money from others. (or indeed owing money to others)

As the account holder, you have a responsibility to allow the supplier access to their meter - if you don't, they can go as far as seeking a warrant to allow them to gain access, and that is not cheap (and will be added to your bill)

There doesn't seem to be any question of access to the meter. If I'm understanding the OP correctly, the issue is with access to the main fuse ahead of it.

That fuse is the property of the DNO, and if it is indeed on the neighbours property then they are obliged to allow the supplier access to it if they so need, to isolate the supply to the meter.

That said, they might not even need access. I don't remember what the guy who swapped my meter did, but when Western Power Distribution came out to swap my main fuse a couple of years prior, they were able to work on it live.

On a tangentially related note OP. Who's above who? Is it their laminate floor that's the issue? You say it would cost thousands to expose and modify your lighting circuit to put it on your meter. would it be feasible to abandon those circuits and running a new feed to the fittings?

footyguy

electricity_meter_problem wrote: »

...

But I have no intention to frustrate. What I need to know how much time do I have to get solicitors to work out the problems.

Have you contacted your solicitor yet?

I'm sure the supplier, on request, will give you until 4pm today to contact your solicitor to obtain the legal advice you are seeking.

Good luck!

Raxiel

footyguy wrote: »

Have you contacted your solicitor yet?

I'm sure the supplier, on request, will give you until 4pm today to contact your solicitor to obtain the legal advice you are seeking.

Good luck!

They're hardly banging on the door!

electricity_meter_problem

Thanks Raxiel,

I guess before warrants are issued, red letters would be sent threatening they were the next stage.

I am very thankful for the mention they might not need access to the fuse.

And even more so for what I had not realized--my neighbour does not own the fuse. He cannot use it as a bargaining chip--it's not his property.

I have thought about doing the rewiring from below. It would be cheaper to have the ceilings down and replaced than laying down new [FONT=&quot]parquet flooring. [/FONT]