Landlord rights to read tenants contracts with provider meters

princeofpounds

Slithery said:

Nope. The meters belong to the utility provider, not the property.

This is true, but to descend further into pendantry, ownership of the property is what is relevant to the right to inspect, technically not ownership of the fixtures and fittings themselves.

Jumblebumble

This landlord is either a complete idiot  or he has a different agenda and is using the excuse of reading the meters to mask something else

Lover_of_Lycra said:

@Slithery is absolutely right, the meters belong to the utility suppliers so this so called solicitor on Just Answers is talking out of his/her hoop.  The landlord could simply read the meters during an inspection but I have no idea why a landlord would want to do that other than at the start of the tenancy and at the end.  Perhaps you should just ask him?

Lover_of_Lycra said:

@Slithery is absolutely right, the meters belong to the utility suppliers so this so called solicitor on Just Answers is talking out of his/her hoop.  The landlord could simply read the meters during an inspection but I have no idea why a landlord would want to do that other than at the start of the tenancy and at the end.  Perhaps you should just ask him?

scopio

I have sent him an email asking him what is the purpose of reading my gas and electricity meters and what does he intend to do with the data.
I can't stop him reading the meters even if it was against the law as the meters are in the cellar of the building which he has unobstructed access to. He even asked how the water reading was collected by the water company and how do I get the bill and how I pay the bill.
He obviously has some unknown motive to be collecting data that is of no use to him and quite frankly I feel my privacy being breached.

theartfullodger

Your landlord clearly has a personality disorder, probably worse also.  Ask him if he's really taking his prescriptions and has he seen his therapist recently.  Politely decline his kind offer to read the meters.

What a clown of a landlord: Should be banned from being a landlord.

Artful: Landlord since 2000

Smodlet

I hate to say it but the only "legitimate" reason I can think of for his wanting this information is for the purpose of selling or letting the property.  It just seems he has an agenda... Or that artful is right and your LL is a whack-job, scopio. 

Unless there is something we have not been told, he has no business whatsoever obstructing access to your meters, either.  I wonder if he is keeping stolen goods in the cellar... Illegal immigrants?  The mind could boggle.

scopio

I doubt it is for selling the property as the property belongs to and adjoined to the Methodist Church.
I became a tenant of this property years ago when I was going to be made homeless and the then Minster offered me this flat which was empty at the time. I have done lots of work all over the church properties for free labour such as bringing the fire doors up to fire regulation standards, plumbing, painting and decorating, looking after their computer maintenance, even installing Wi-Fi all over the building including installing a Point to Point link between their two building and much more but none of this seems to have been appreciated by the relative new property steward whose position has gone to his head. I have never had a problem before this individual became property steward.
My inkling is that the congregation attending the church and their donations have declined significantly and they are trying to find a way to find out how much more they can raise my rent in order for them to recover some of their lost revenue from me.

Smodlet

Very Christian of him... Perhaps you could point out to him that you are, in fact, paying rent so are not a charity case and certainly are capable of reading your own meters.  Presumably, if he wants to raise your rent, he is still bound by all the laws unaffiliated LLs are subject to; artful?

I am not sure but think your energy provider(s) would not be happy with access to their meters being blocked on health and safety grounds, to say nothing of the financial considerations of estimated bills if their readers cannot get to them.

theartfullodger

If it belongs to the church then he isn't the Landlord.  And has no rights, unless tenancy specifies any right for him (by name).

Check who or what is named as Landlord in tenancy agreement.

You sure you are not also paying for church's electric?  Turn power off during a service to find out.

Smodlet

theartfullodger said:

If it belongs to the church then he isn't the Landlord.  And has no rights, unless tenancy specifies any right for him (by name).

Check who or what is named as Landlord in tenancy agreement.

You sure you are not also paying for church's electric?  Turn power off during a service to find out.

 <Applause>, you little  

scopio

No I am not paying for the church electrics, gas or water as I have separate meters which I do read every month when due although as you know the water meter reading is collected by the water company by their mobile system.
 One thing he did ask me about was how I read the water meter and how do I pay for it, to which I answered that that was none of his business at which point he just walked away in a huff.