Landlord using our electricity for their farm building

spendaholic

Our landlord's relative recently knocked on our door asking for access to our electricity meter and fuseboard as the electrics weren't working in their farm building apx 20m away. He checked that the fuse hadn't popped and went away again.

A few days later he was back with an electrician to check the wiring. Once again he knocked on our door for access to the meter and fuseboard. (It's an indoor meter. There is only one meter and only one consumer unit/fuseboard.) The electrician did something to the wiring, fixed it, and they all went away again happy in the fact that the electrics were now working in their farm building.

I asked our landlord's relative to confirm that we were paying for the electricity to his farm building, and he said that yes we were but it wasn't very much. I asked our letting agent if they knew, and they didn't but said they would ask the question.

We have only been here for 6 months and this was the first time we realised this was happening.

I'm just wondering what the legal position is on this. We don't rent the farm building, we rent the house only. Our contract says we are responsible for our own energy supply, but nowhere does it say that our supply powers this farm building, which we have no access to or use of. Nor were we advised that this was the case.

Thanks for any replies.

TBagpuss

In the first instance, contact your landlord and ask that they make alternative arrangements or that they cover a proportion of the bill.

Do you know what there is in the building? If it is just electric light, it may well make very little difference to your bill. If there is any form of heat, or sockets from which they run anything else, it may make a bigger difference.

Do you know which of your fuses related to the outbuilding, and whether anything else is on the circuit?

spendaholic

TBagpuss wrote: »

Do you know what there is in the building? If it is just electric light, it may well make very little difference to your bill. If there is any form of heat, or sockets from which they run anything else, it may make a bigger difference.

Do you know which of your fuses related to the outbuilding, and whether anything else is on the circuit?

He said it was just an electric door, and it may well make very little difference. But we don't know what else he has in there. We know which fuse it is. We think it's just a cable to the barn.

To be honest, had they told us about it in the first place we would have been okay about it. But we do wonder if they should have at least mentioned it.

Robin9

Have you got your own meter readings records for the last 6 months ? If so then you might be able to make a case for a goodwill payment for your consumption compared with a typical property.

And as above get the landlord to instal their own main supply - will not be cheap but that's not your problem

spendaholic

Robin9 wrote: »

Have you got your own meter readings records for the last 6 months ? If so then you might be able to make a case for a goodwill payment for your consumption compared with a typical property.

We can't even get this landlord to repair things like a blocked toilet or a faulty light circuit at the moment. I doubt very much we'd get any goodwill out of them at all. They say they spent enough on the place before letting it out and they're not prepared to spend any more.

Robin9

That's your choice if you choose not to pursue the matter.

The general comments about meter readings remain and from what you say about your landlord might prevent any disputed utility charges.

spendaholic

Robin9 wrote: »

The general comments about meter readings remain and from what you say about your landlord might prevent any disputed utility charges.

Yes, I think so too. The bluff old cynic in me is very worried about this landlord. My OH assures me I'm just being a bluff old cynic! :rotfl:

I really appreciate any advice, suggestions or thoughts.

gardner1

well if it is just an electric garage door and a bulb it will be adding a few pennies on your bill.......on the other hand if he's in there using it as workshop that's different and it cant be hard to work out if he's in it for hours on end

Cakeguts

This is basically not acceptable. You should not be paying for their electricity. It makes me think that they are trying to get away with something to do with agricultural occupancy or something.



How long is your contract? This is not a good landlord.

spendaholic

Cakeguts wrote: »

How long is your contract? This is not a good landlord.

It's a 12-month contract that switches to a monthly rolling contract, but we can protect it if we want for up to 3 years, I believe.

We'd sooner not have to move house again as it's quite expensive and we've only just started to move things over like our doctor and dentist. But if we have to, we will.

Herbalus

spendaholic wrote: »

We can't even get this landlord to repair things like a blocked toilet or a faulty light circuit at the moment. I doubt very much we'd get any goodwill out of them at all. They say they spent enough on the place before letting it out and they're not prepared to spend any more.

Yet he can be round sharpish to fix the electrics that go to his building?

I would pop the fuse on his shed, and when the electrician comes back, say “while you’re here, this circuit is faulty”.