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

Talldave

{not going on about 2 years/readings/smart meters}


I've lived in a purpose built block of flats where all electric and water meters were in locked rooms/cupboards. I paid extra to the managing agents to have keys.


I'm not sure how meter readers were meant to gain access, but when one called to read our meter, I lent them my keys to enable them to access all the meters in the block that they needed to read.


Everyone who needs a key having a key seems the most sensible and cost-effective solution - it's then no different to the traditional case of meters being under the stairs and someone needing to answer the door to give the meter reader access. It solves the PAYG access too.

CrikeyBananas

Thanks for all your input. I don't know how to multi-quote posts, so apologies for not highlighting all your contributions.


Spiro - it may well have been done on the cheap, back in the 80s by the looks of it. I have a copy of the lease/deeds and there doesn't appear to be anything to suggest access rights (however, one page was poorly photocopied, so with that and my understanding of legalese, I might be missing something), but I believe that could be implied in any case given how long the meters would have been there. Nothing was highlighted by my solicitor at the time.


Houbara - it's not a meter cupboard, it just happens to be where the meters are. I'm not going to leave it unlocked just because it is claimed that over 200 bodies can access it if they like! Plenty of people have meters on their property - my parents' happens to be in their garage and they lock the garage. If a body needs to access it in an emergency, of course they can do what they need to (I'd be rather miffed if there was a fire inside my property and the fire brigade decided they couldn't break in to put it out) and I'm not so churlish so as to deny access if it's needed.


Nick_C - as I mentioned above, I think that the length of time the meters have been there might mean that there is a legal right of access. Obviously, I'm not a solicitor though!


Talldave - it wouldn't have changed my decision as it makes little difference in the grand scheme of things. I just want to feel safe by having that door locked, but I don't want to make things awkward for other people.


The current state of play is that I've had a copy of the key cut to give to the PAYG tenant - his landlord will pay for the copy. I've contacted my solicitor to find out what she can tell me about communal access rights and will go from there. I've advised the tenant's landlord that I'm looking into further options re: access and will advise what, if any, alternative arrangements will need to be made. I think that's probably all I can do for now.

AndyCF

Only slight point here is if they end up with a Smart PrePay meter they still will need access to it to input codes occasionally (possibly, depends on their supplier) , so having a key/cardless one is not always the solution to access/lack of access.

Only real 'payment' difference with the Smart's is you do not have to go to the meter with anything as you don't have anything (usually) its via phone or online etc.

OPMDaze

A key safe is another option which we have at our flats.