Neighbours' meters (gas and electricity) are in my property - what are my options?

CrikeyBananas

Recently moved to a flat where the outbuilding that houses the entire building's (house that's converted into flats) meters. The outbuilding is part of my flat's deeds. The meters, I'm assuming have been there a long time, so I believe would allow my neighbours right of access.


My issue is that the outbuilding is right next to my front door. When I moved in, I kept closing the outbuilding door (believing it to be locked) and would periodically find it open. As a single female, this made me feel unsafe coming back to my flat at night as I had no idea if an intruder could be waiting there - call me paranoid, but it was a concern.


I realised the door was had a deadlock on the inside, so I released the knob and locked the door. I put a note on the door explaining why I had locked it and if anyone wanted to access the meters, just ask.


That was before I realised one neighbour (a tenant) appears to be a PAYG user, so it seems they need more access than just occasional meter readings.


At present, I have just the one key for the outbuilding, so one possibility is that I get another key cut. However, are there any options that I could contact the owner about re: fitting a payment meter to their actual flat?


Getting the meters moved outside is obviously not a cheap option, so I'd like to know if there are any other possibilities (the ideal solution would be to not have other people's meters on my property :rotfl:).

spiro

Yes getting them moved will be expensive. It appears whoever did the conversion from house to flats did it on the cheap but not doing it them.
Does you deed have any clause about allowing the other flat owners access to your outbuilding?
I suggest you speak to the neighbour with the PPM to ask them to speak to their supplier and advise them you are not prepared to allow them constant access and they will need to make alterative arrangements. To be helpful once say every 3 months you could write down the meter readings for each meter and pin them to the outside of the door so the other tenants can submit them to their supplier.
Did you solicitor not highlight this to you? If they didn't I would be asking them why.

[Deleted User]

CrikeyBananas wrote: »

Recently moved to a flat where the outbuilding that houses the entire building's (house that's converted into flats) meters. The outbuilding is part of my flat's deeds. The meters, I'm assuming have been there a long time, so I believe would allow my neighbours right of access.


My issue is that the outbuilding is right next to my front door. When I moved in, I kept closing the outbuilding door (believing it to be locked) and would periodically find it open. As a single female, this made me feel unsafe coming back to my flat at night as I had no idea if an intruder could be waiting there - call me paranoid, but it was a concern.


I realised the door was had a deadlock on the inside, so I released the knob and locked the door. I put a note on the door explaining why I had locked it and if anyone wanted to access the meters, just ask.


That was before I realised one neighbour (a tenant) appears to be a PAYG user, so it seems they need more access than just occasional meter readings.


At present, I have just the one key for the outbuilding, so one possibility is that I get another key cut. However, are there any options that I could contact the owner about re: fitting a payment meter to their actual flat?


Getting the meters moved outside is obviously not a cheap option, so I'd like to know if there are any other possibilities (the ideal solution would be to not have other people's meters on my property :rotfl:).

You should unlock that door now. You do not have the legal right to lock the cupboard .
It is an official meter cupboards and does not belong to you if you are the owner.
Your deeds do not really cover this issue. As a meter reader we need to access this cupboard when we need to to cover legal 2 yearly safety checks on the meters within the cupboard and we do not need your permission whether or not we can see the meters
. Other utilities also have the same right such as Cadent and the local DNO

spiro

Houbara wrote: »

You should unlock that door now. You do not have the legal right to lock the cupboard .
It is an official meter cupboards and does not belong to you if you are the owner.
Your deeds do not really cover this issue. As a meter reader we need to access this cupboard when we need to to cover legal 2 yearly safety checks on the meters within the cupboard and we do not need your permission whether or not we can see the meters
. Other utilities also have the same right such as Cadent and the local DNO

She said it was an outbuilding not a meter cupboard so she has ever right to lock it. For the 2 year inspection the tenant would need to contact the poster to agree a time for the meter reader to come.
As I said sounds like a property conversion done on the cheap.

Nick_C

OP -

1) check the deeds.
2) assuming the other flat owners have a right to access the outbuilding to access the meters, the put a strong self closer on the door and give everyone keys
3) if there is no right of access in your deeds, then you could secure the building and deny access. But be prepared for a dispute which is going to make you unpopular with your neighbours, and a bill for legal advice.

[Deleted User]

spiro wrote: »

She said it was an outbuilding not a meter cupboard so she has ever right to lock it. For the 2 year inspection the tenant would need to contact the poster to agree a time for the meter reader to come.
As I said sounds like a property conversion done on the cheap.

Does nt matter whether its an outbuilding or not.The rights remain the same.You are only going on something which has not been properly declared and covered in the deeds properly
.That has been done on the cheap as well ..The meters within, and the pipework and cabling do not belong to the house owner and the legal rights of access remain, as they do for all gas and electric meters in the UK . We do not need to get permission from the house owner to access our property. We normally do get permission but if its denied or the occupier is nt available we can get a Magistrates warrant of entry and enter by our usual means, lock picking or drilling , even with police protection.
It is not just meter readers needing access, meter fitters fitting smart AND dumb meters, Cadent and the district network operators have rights of access.Edit, as pointed out by other posters PAYG on dumb meters need constant access.
.Cadent for instance will break into thousands of homes per year without permission or advance notice to deal with emergency gas leaks.
There are over 200 bodies who have rights of access to everyone`s property. without gaining permission if necessary. The idea that an Englishman`s home is his castle is just a myth.
Giving a stranger a key or passcode to a door which could access the home owners interior is out of the question. If this is the situation a new strong secondary door within the meter outbuilding needs to be constructed

bengalknights

You could ask all the neighbors kindly to upgrade all to smart meters, that way they wont really need to take a meter reading.

Nick_C

Many electricity meters are inside people's homes. The supplier will have a right to access the meter in accordance with the agreement that the customer entered into. That does not mean that you have to leave your front door unlocked to let them come in whenever they like. Access is generally by agreement. The same applies to your outbuilding.

IF there is no provision in the deeds for your neighbours' meters to be on your property, then the supplier has no right to access them. And the supplier could terminate the neighbours' supply. You have not entered into an agreement with your neighbours' supplier(s).

Of course, some utility companies will try to tell you that they have rights which they do not have, and their staff may act like Little Hitlers.

martinthebandit

As has been said, fit a self closer and a Yale type latch and give everyone who needs one a key.

It will be the simplest, cheapest and least hassle option.

Talldave

spiro wrote: »

Did you solicitor not highlight this to you? If they didn't I would be asking them why.

I'd be following this advice. If the need to be "meter monitor" had been made clear before purchase, it might have influenced your purchase decision or had an impact on the price.

twhitehousescat

you are all gong on about 2 yrly meter readers , and taking meter readings and pinning on the door , and smart meters

in the original post the OP stated PAYG , as in Pay as you go , with a card and or a key , most of those are topped up at local shop and need inserting in the meter to "feed it"

access to the meters will be required