Shared pay meter?

elizamcox

Hello, 
I've recently moved into private accommodation and the landlord has said to pay gas/electric there is a shared pay meter in the communal hallway, is this normal? I have noticed that there is a gas meter I can get readings from in my flat but not one for electric. I also need to register myself with EDF to get a gas card but the contract is under door number 1111A whereas I'm 111B, does anyone find this strange?
Thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

1000 doors away?

macman

LL sounds like a lazy and clueless bodger. Shared PPM's are absurd, as there is nothing to stop one person putting £x on the meter and then the neighbour uses all the power. It might be workable between 2 considerate neighbours, but not beyond.
LL needs to clarify the gas meter situation, but probably that meter serves a neighbouring unit and is yet another bodge.
Describe the property: is this an HMO in the form of individual studios or bedsits in a former single dwelling house?

jefaz07

If I’m getting this correctly then the PRIMARY meter is operating in pre payment mode? 

You then have sub or check meters in individual flats? 

If so that needs rectifying....it’s classified as AT RISK and this is documented in section 2.6 of IGEM G11

elizamcox

Deleted User said:

1000 doors away?

Typo, I meant 111A

elizamcox

macman said:

LL sounds like a lazy and clueless bodger. Shared PPM's are absurd, as there is nothing to stop one person putting £x on the meter and then the neighbour uses all the power. It might be workable between 2 considerate neighbours, but not beyond.
LL needs to clarify the gas meter situation, but probably that meter serves a neighbouring unit and is yet another bodge.
Describe the property: is this an HMO in the form of individual studios or bedsits in a former single dwelling house?

That's exactly what I thought! I've had to Google HMO etc. because this is all very new to me but no, there are no communal areas, we aren't two neighbours living in one house. The only shared area is the hallway leading to both our front doors and the landlord seems pretty sure that it's a shared pay meter. I have asked my lettings officer to try and find out more

elizamcox

jefaz07 said:

If I’m getting this correctly then the PRIMARY meter is operating in pre payment mode? 

You then have sub or check meters in individual flats? 

If so that needs rectifying....it’s classified as AT RISK and this is documented in section 2.6 of IGEM G11

This is how I believe it works but I'm not actually sure whether there is a check meter in the other flat as well. Do you know where I can find a copy of the IGEM G11? Or do I have to buy it? That's all I'm seeing when Googling 

macman

It would be interesting to find out to which property the 'shared' PPM is registered: it can't be both.

yksi

Have you got a picture of it? My previous house had five prepayment meters in a cluster in the hallway, one for each flat, which we just topped up ourselves. This would be what I would expect and would make much more sense.

elizamcox

macman said:

It would be interesting to find out to which property the 'shared' PPM is registered: it can't be both.

The landlord told me to tell EDF the property is 111A so I assume it's registered with that property. Oddly enough when searching the address (like when you're ordering  something to de delivered), 111B doesn't actually show up.

elizamcox

yksi said:

Have you got a picture of it? My previous house had five prepayment meters in a cluster in the hallway, one for each flat, which we just topped up ourselves. This would be what I would expect and would make much more sense.

This is what I was expecting but there really is only one payment meter, I will have a picture on tomorrow if you're still here to help (: