Facing high electricity bill after cannabis factory

damtom85

Hello everyone 

I am after advice.
I have rented out my property for some time. I had in place proper tenancy agreement, details of tenant and also photo copy of his ID.  Bills were in my name so he paid me monthly rent and when utility bills came he also paid them to me and I made payment to company. 

When police raided property, electricity company was called to disconnect power as tenant made connection before meter. Obviously police never caught tenant. 

Now British Gas measured rooms and  with that calculation they want £8500 to be paid before they will connect power back on. They are saying if bills would be in tenant name, power would be connected back but because it is in my name i have to pay first.

Any advice in this case ? Thank you  

welshmoneylover

Have you sent them a copy of the tenancy agreement or were the bills included with the rent?

damtom85

Thanks for reply.

They took details of tenancy agreement. Bills were not included in rent. 

ElephantBoy57

damtom85 said:

Now British Gas measured rooms and  with that calculation they want £8500 to be paid before they will connect power back on. They are saying if bills would be in tenant name, power would be connected back but because it is in my name i have to pay first.
Any advice in this case ? Thank you  

Is it possible to estimate how much energy a cannabis farm would use?

Did the tenant grow cannabis for one month or twelve months, I think the answer is they don't know.

So even if you are legally responsible, go for a much lower figure.

Hasbeen

You are a Landlord?? and the utilty Bill's where in your name LOL.

 Sorry lesson hopefully learned.

You had  photo ID was it genuine?

Obviously  not, but then again?

Is this a genuine  post?

macman

Were the bills in your tenant's name, then you might be liable for the reconnection cost, but not for the illegal usage. 
I do not understand why the utility bills were never put into the name of the tenant, which is standard practice where they are not included in the rent?
Unfortunately, you don't really have a leg to stand on because of this.
Trying to look on the bright side, since the tenant has gone AWOL, he properly won't be reclaiming the deposit from the scheme...

Hasbeen

Next question from "Landlord": What's a deposit?

Op you state that tenant had rented for some time? Did you not notice a "cannabis factory" in your  regular property checks? Did property have gas? did engineer not notice when doing gas safety inspection?

Anyway:
You apparently now owe BG £8500 by their estimate? Did they estimate by getting any information as to how old the plants were?

Seemingly the average indoor grow is 3 to 5 Months. So I would be trying to get a figure from them for approx that usage.

I would try and negotiate a reduction and ask for a payment plan to gradually pay of whatever is agreed to.

damtom85

Hasbeen said:

Next question from "Landlord": What's a deposit?

Op you state that tenant had rented for some time? Did you not notice a "cannabis factory" in your  regular property checks? Did property have gas? did engineer not notice when doing gas safety inspection?

Anyway:
You apparently now owe BG £8500 by their estimate? Did they estimate by getting any information as to how old the plants were?

Seemingly the average indoor grow is 3 to 5 Months. So I would be trying to get a figure from them for approx that usage.

I would try and negotiate a reduction and ask for a payment plan to gradually pay of whatever is agreed to.

BG is going by how long was tenancy agreement. Tenancy was 14 months long before police raided. 
I was multiple times there , and you will not believe what sophisticated systems they use now. I was in living room and two bedroom next to me and you would never know. No smell , no noise. Even police said that was very fine system they/he used, high quality industrial filter , and low noise ventilators and fans. 

Regarding BG , like you said Hasbeen , person who came and did measurements , when I spoke with them last night, he even offered he will go back to his manager and asks for reduction. And like you said , just put in instalments as I can't see any other option at the moment. 

Hasbeen

damtom85 said:

Hasbeen said:

Next question from "Landlord": What's a deposit?

Op you state that tenant had rented for some time? Did you not notice a "cannabis factory" in your  regular property checks? Did property have gas? did engineer not notice when doing gas safety inspection?

Anyway:
You apparently now owe BG £8500 by their estimate? Did they estimate by getting any information as to how old the plants were?

Seemingly the average indoor grow is 3 to 5 Months. So I would be trying to get a figure from them for approx that usage.

I would try and negotiate a reduction and ask for a payment plan to gradually pay of whatever is agreed to.

BG is going by how long was tenancy agreement. Tenancy was 14 months long before police raided. 
I was multiple times there , and you will not believe what sophisticated systems they use now. I was in living room and two bedroom next to me and you would never know. No smell , no noise. Even police said that was very fine system they/he used, high quality industrial filter , and low noise ventilators and fans. 

Regarding BG , like you said Hasbeen , person who came and did measurements , when I spoke with them last night, he even offered he will go back to his manager and asks for reduction. And like you said , just put in instalments as I can't see any other option at the moment. 

So they are estimating £8500 for the 14 months. £607 per month. So for last batch of plants would have been 0 to 5 months old. Say 5 months at £607. Just over £3000.

Would not think you could get a reduction that low. Hopefully the manager agrees to some reduction.

But still worth negotiating.

JJ_Egan

Landlords insurance ???

JC_Derby

JJ_Egan said:

Landlords insurance ???

that is the way i would go too.