Dispute over gas meter at end of tenancy.

Sleepydust

Hi all, I’ve looked around on the net but can’t find an answer to my question so I’m hoping someone here might have an answer for me.

My tenancy ended on July 9th. On going to get the final gas meter reading it was discovered that the gas meter isn’t working. It’s located outside the front of the flats on the driveway in the ground. It’s covered over by a plastic cover with no lock so it’s accessible to anybody who wants to get to it. It doesn’t even have one of those triangle meter key locks.

The meter doesn’t appear to be damaged but nothing is coming up on the screen. We tried holding down each button for a few seconds, holding down both buttons together for a few seconds etc but nothing worked, nothing was coming up on the screen.

I am having issues with my LL anyway regarding my deposit, but he has said he won’t release the deposit until I have had the gas meter fixed. 

I called the energy company on the 10th July, so the morning after I realised it wasn’t working, and they said they aren’t doing non-emergency repairs at the moment due to Covid. They said the LL will have to ring them at a later date to organise an engineer.


I told the LL this but he’s insisting I call the energy company and tell them it’s an emergency because he has new tenants moving in on Monday and they need to take a reading.

Where does responsibility lie here? I have paid my outstanding energy bill, the gas had to be estimated, and I have reported the faulty meter to both the LL and the energy company. This isn’t my problem anymore is it? I think the LL is being unreasonable in refusing to release my deposit because I didn’t cause the issue, I have taken steps to remedy the issue and all my bills have now been settled. Am I right?

[Deleted User]

I would say the landlord is being unreasonable, I would start the process of claiming the deposit back through whatever deposit protection scheme was used.

Sleepydust

I have requested the deposit’s return on the DPS website. Unfortunately the LL doesn’t think official channels apply to him. he prefers to telephone me out of the blue  and try to intimidate me. I shall request a single claim form if he still hasn’t responded to my DPS request after 14 days and take it from there. This is only the tip of the iceberg I’m afraid.

greatcrested

The gas account is in your name I assume.

And the tenancy agreement makes you responsible for the utility bills.

So payment of your final gas bill is nothing to do with the landlord. He should return your deposit.

Raise a dispute with the protection scheme.

Post 3: Deposits: Payment, Protection and Return.

Having said that I understand the difficulty the LL has, since he is responsible for any gas usage between tenants, which depends on the meter readings, and the incoming tenants will want meter readings to ensure they are billed only for their own usage.

But none of that impacts on your right to get your deposit back.

Since the LL is now responsible for the gas, he should chase the gas company about his faulty meter.

steampowered

This is exactly the sort of nonsense that a smart meter would fix.

He sounds like a gammon type landlord - the type that read the daily mail and complain endlessly about smart meters.

I'd just dispute the full deposit through the DPS.

diggingdude

I would perhaps text the landlord and say you will be answering no more calls or text messages from them and that their number will now be blocked. You have requested your deposit it is up to the landlord to prove anything else and it is up to the landlord to chase the gas metre company. 

princeofpounds

The meter is the property of the energy company, not the landlord. The broken meter is a problem between the new tenants and the energy company, not the Landlord and you. You have done your bit by reporting it. 

As everyone else has said, just get your deposit back from the scheme and ignore him.

Marvel1

Sleepydust said:

I have requested the deposit’s return on the DPS website. Unfortunately the LL doesn’t think official channels apply to him. he prefers to telephone me out of the blue  and try to intimidate me. I shall request a single claim form if he still hasn’t responded to my DPS request after 14 days and take it from there. This is only the tip of the iceberg I’m afraid.

Block their number.

Carrot007

steampowered said:

This is exactly the sort of nonsense that a smart meter would fix.

He sounds like a gammon type landlord - the type that read the daily mail and complain endlessly about smart meters.

I'd just dispute the full deposit through the DPS.

So a smart meter would fix the battery running out?

I mean yes it would start a new 10 year cycle, but stop this occuring no.

Maybe if they kept using the IHD. But hopefully those will be phased out soon as pointless costly tat. (for those wanting instant the elec meter provideing a wifi point to connect to would be fine).

But yes, lannlord is being unrealistic. It's a problem. It's not urgent.

OP. Did you tell them you were moving out? Either way not much they can do but estimate. New tenant may not like it but they can be back estimated from future usage if they stay with the supplier long enough.

Sleepydust

Thank you all for your responses.

Yes the energy company know I’ve vacated. I’ve paid my final bill and the account has been closed.

I won’t be responding to any communication direct from the LL going forward. The phone call caught me out as I didn’t know his number. He texts from an email address. I shall be blocking both. If he wishes to communicate with me he’ll have to do it either through the letting agent who he is paying to manage the property, or the DPS.

diggingdude

Sleepydust said:

Thank you all for your responses.

Yes the energy company know I’ve vacated. I’ve paid my final bill and the account has been closed.

I won’t be responding to any communication direct from the LL going forward. The phone call caught me out as I didn’t know his number. He texts from an email address. I shall be blocking both. If he wishes to communicate with me he’ll have to do it either through the letting agent who he is paying to manage the property, or the DPS.

I would strongly consider not dealing with the agents either, you paid your bills nothing else to discuss