Flat within a house with a central meter

nohassles

I'm a flat owner but the flat is part of a larger house which has recently been converted and I still pay service charges for the upkeep of the grounds, insurance on the external structure etc. My current electricity situation is that the house has a central meter and the flats are sub-metered. The landlord whips up a bill on Excel based on this sub-metered usage.

I want to end this arrangement and get my own supplier.

For the last couple of weeks I've been playing tennis between my prospective new supplier and the landlord of the house over responsibility of getting this arranged. The landlord is adamant that my new supplier needs to liaise with National Grid to register a meter, but the supplier say that this needs to be arranged with the landlord. I'm starting to get frustrated so I'm wondering if anyone out there has any advice??

Terresa

nohassles wrote: »

I'm a flat owner but the flat is part of a larger house which has recently been converted and I still pay service charges for the upkeep of the grounds, insurance on the external structure etc. My current electricity situation is that the house has a central meter and the flats are sub-metered. The landlord whips up a bill on Excel based on this sub-metered usage.

I want to end this arrangement and get my own supplier.

For the last couple of weeks I've been playing tennis between my prospective new supplier and the landlord of the house over responsibility of getting this arranged. The landlord is adamant that my new supplier needs to liaise with National Grid to register a meter, but the supplier say that this needs to be arranged with the landlord. I'm starting to get frustrated so I'm wondering if anyone out there has any advice??

Find a solicitor to investigate the solicitor that allowed you to purchase a property without it's own metered electricity supply.

nohassles

Hmm, dealing with more solicitors sounds like something I'd rather avoid if possible, but if it means I can potentially recoup some of the outlay on conveyancing fees, it may be worth it.

macman

Surely this should have come up on the standard pre-contract questionaire? Were you aware of the sub-meter set up at the time of purchase?
The freeholder (not an LL) would have to grant permission, since the new supply will presumably pass through the structure of which he owns the freehold?
Sounds like the usual bodged up conversion: what has he done with the water supply, which should now be metered to each new flat?

nohassles

macman wrote: »

Surely this should have come up on the standard pre-contract questionaire? Were you aware of the sub-meter set up at the time of purchase?
The freeholder (not an LL) would have to grant permission, since the new supply will presumably pass through the structure of which he owns the freehold?
Sounds like the usual bodged up conversion: what has he done with the water supply, which should now be metered to each new flat?

Pre-contract questionnaire? Not ringing any bells.

I was not specifically aware of the way the electricity was set up, I was previously a tenant and was happy to just receive a bill from the landlord, but now that I've bought the property I'd like it in my own name.

House_Martin

nohassles wrote: »

Pre-contract questionnaire? Not ringing any bells.

I was not specifically aware of the way the electricity was set up, I was previously a tenant and was happy to just receive a bill from the landlord, but now that I've bought the property I'd like it in my own name.

I ve seen many sub meters in operation. The ones I have checked with the occupiers were getting quite a good deal .OK they were paying a standard variable kwh price per unit , but that was it, no standing charges and no 5% vat.All in all I thought it acceptable, better than prepayment meter rates. Most suppliers want around 20p to 40 p a day standing charges
Have you done your checks on a comp site to see if you are better off going it alone.
Landlord could be on a business contract with a good kwh rate and can pass it on to his tenants. He/she is not allowed to sell on electricity at a profit.

nohassles

I've done the maths and would definitely save with other suppliers. I am paying VAT currently

macman

nohassles wrote: »

Pre-contract questionnaire? Not ringing any bells.

I was not specifically aware of the way the electricity was set up, I was previously a tenant and was happy to just receive a bill from the landlord, but now that I've bought the property I'd like it in my own name.

Then I suggest you have another look at the documentation supplied by your conveyancer. The vendor would have filled this in, I think it normally asks who the supplier is.
If he didn't mention it was sub metered, then I'd suggest he's potentially liable for a claim.

nohassles

I can't find anything in the purchase documentation but I'll keep digging.

macman

Then speak to your conveyancer, it would be something like this:
https://www.cwpl.co.uk/Guides-Forms/SPQ%20Version%201.4.pdf

Robin9

An interesting scenario and one which the form does not really consider. Q 10 (ii) is probably answered "YES" but "There is none" is perhaps more truthful.

How is question 12 answered - it ought to be the person who submeters you and to whom you are paying your bill.

On a practical point on whose property is this meter ?