Who is responsible for Standing Charge on Empty Property

SnowTiger

Leodogger wrote: »

Yes we are the landlords. I think after further investigation you are probably right though I think this is completely unfair considering we will not be in the property for 5 weeks. I believe that NPower actually do a tariff which excludes a standing charge so I might investigate that one further.

Who do you think should pay the standing charge?

35 days @ ~20p is about £7.

Changing energy supplier takes about 21 days.

Unless the current energy supplier, the one that doesn't have a standing charge and the one you wish to finally end up with is the same, it's probably not worth changing.

Leodogger

Yes I came to that conclusion, not worth the bother.

tempus_fugit

Leodogger wrote: »

No I wasn't suggesting it was the responsibility of the tenant moving out, although I have allowed her to cut her notice period in half and move after 1 month instead of 2 because she has a knee operation coming up and wanted to be out before the operation. No I merely thought that it was unfair for anyone who is not occupying a property to be forced to pay a standing charge for a service you are not using, I don't just mean for me but for anyone. Don't you agree ?

No. You own a property which has an energy supply, therefore it is right that the property owner pays the standing charge for that supply. If you don't want a standing charge then you have to disconnect the supply, as suggested earlier, but it hardly seems worth it. And are you actually sure that absolutely no power is being used when you're not in it anyway?

Norman_Castle

Leodogger wrote: »

I merely thought that it was unfair for anyone who is not occupying a property to be forced to pay a standing charge for a service you are not using,

The supply is maintained and available regardless of you being there, its you thats choosing not to use it.
Leave a light on to get your moneys worth.

Flt._Lt._Biggles

Leodogger wrote: »

We are moving back into a property we were renting but it will be empty for 5 weeks after the tenant leaves. Are we responsible for the standing charge between her leaving and us moving back into the property during the time the property is empty ?

The tenant is responsible for the property throughout their tenancy.
Thereafter the landlord must re-assume responsibility unless another tenancy agreement starts the same day as the previous one ends.

The account holder is responsible to the supplier for all charges.

Flt._Lt._Biggles

Leodogger wrote: »

Yes we are the landlords. I think after further investigation you are probably right though I think this is completely unfair considering we will not be in the property for 5 weeks. I believe that NPower actually do a tariff which excludes a standing charge so I might investigate that one further.

Well your option is to have the electricity disconnected at the end of your tenant's tenancy agreement . Then you won't have any more cxharge to pay.

But the cost of disconnection and reconnection will be far, far in excess of any standing charges, and there is no guarantee when they will be able to carry out these operations ... so you still might end up paying some sdtandard charges.

Any professional landlord would fully understand their obligations with regards to their property, before going into the business.

Set your mind to other issues, such as arranging suitable insurance on a property to be left empty for 5 weeks.
That'll cost you a lot more than energy standing charges as well

Leodogger

I am not a professional landlord, where did you get that idea? I was renting out my main residence whilst abroad and am now returning to take up residence so knew nothing about the rules surrounding energy supply, hence the question in the first place.

As for insurance, the property has been insured by us during the whole time it was rented out and still is.

Farway

Leodogger wrote: »

As for insurance, the property has been insured by us during the whole time it was rented out and still is.

I think what was meant is property being left empty, many home insurance policies have a XXXX days max empty clause, check yours just in case

YBR

I Agree you should check insurance.
My parents have gone away for long holidays a few times since they retired and the insurance does not cover the house if empty for over 30 days. I know this because I've had to go and stay in the house to "re-set" the count!
My home/contents insurance policies have always had the same limit so it is very common

Leodogger

The property will only be empty for 5 weeks which is also when the policy expires but I take your point and will notify my insurers accordingly or it may be cheaper, as my policy expires as I say 5 weeks after the tenant moves out, to just get a new policy one week early rather than they charge me for an empty property premium for exceeding 30 days and then just cancel the present insurance policy from the inception date of the new policy? That would be OK right?