Gas and electricity sub meters in private property

mariamargot

Hello!
I am living in 1 bedroom flat in the house which used to was a one property. This property is split on two parts(my flat and 5 bedroom flat above me). There is one main meter for gas and electricity and sub meters, which are showing usage only for my flat. When I have moved in here I wasn't informed about it and my tenancy agreement doesn't state it too, in fact it is clearly stating that I have to register with all utility organisation. I have tried to register my meters for a long time but nobody was able to help with it. In the meantime the tenants from upstairs moved out. After some time two men visited my flat looking for main tenants from upstairs with warrant to pay outstanding gas and electricity bill. They have asked me for my name and a week later this bill came with my name. They have used my name and assigned to someone's account.  In the meantime new tenants moved in upstairs and landlord rent it as a share house with bills included. After many calls to supplier and official complain they couldn't resolve the problem so I asked Ombudsman to help with it. Their decision says that I was responsible for the property that time and this is my bill to pay suggesting that this is an issue between me and my landlord. My landlord doesn't want to solve this problem and said that this bill can't be on its name and it has to stay like it is. People living upstairs are random guys who I don't know. I can't chase anybody to split the bills and besides they wont pay it as they have all bills included. I don't know how to solve this problem, I am totally helpless. CAB wasn't helpful too, they just advise me to write official letter to my landlord but what next?? I don't want to pay someone's bills. Please help me with any advice. Thank you

MWT

Do you have the meter readings from your sub-meters that would show how much you have used in total since you moved in?

How do those totals compare to the amounts the energy company is claiming from you on the bill that has been sent?

Carrot007

The person with the main meter should be asking the others for their share. This should be in hte tennancy.

If it obvious you landlord is a bodger and does not care.

Best option is to ignore the bill. Let it go to court. And provide photographic evidence you do not host the main meter. (of course you should never have given your name and let them do whatever). (this may nopt work but make sure they call your landlord in as well if you go that way).

It would be also a good idea to find a landlord that is not an idiot. (and maybe pay and write it off as a coimplex problem, if you are not up for a long long long battle).

MWT

Carrot007 said:

Best option is to ignore the bill. Let it go to court. And provide photographic evidence you do not host the main meter.

That isn't a safe route to follow as the OP was living in the premises and consuming energy ...

Gerry1

Two things worth doing:-

• Write to your landlord as CA advised.  No point in refusing to do so.

• Work out what you have used so far and pay the energy company accordingly.

A wicked thought would be to tell the energy company to install a prepayment meter if they still claim that you owe them money.  Then the boot will be on the other foot: the people upstairs will be paying for your electricity as well as theirs, so when the lights go out that will force the situation to be resolved.

mariamargot

MWT said:

Do you have the meter readings from your sub-meters that would show how much you have used in total since you moved in?

How do those totals compare to the amounts the energy company is claiming from you on the bill that has been sent?

I have all meter reading as main meter and sub meter are in my flat therefore Ombudsman is stated I am responsible for property and bill is mine) obviously I an manage only my part of the bill but what with the rest,who will pay it? It will still stay on my name and cause debt.

mariamargot

Gerry1 said:

Two things worth doing:-

• Write to your landlord as CA advised.  No point in refusing to do so.

• Work out what you have used so far and pay the energy company accordingly.

A wicked thought would be to tell the energy company to install a prepayment meter if they still claim that you owe them money.  Then the boot will be on the other foot: the people upstairs will be paying for your electricity as well as theirs, so when the lights go out that will force the situation to be resolved.

I will write the letter to my landlord but to be honest I doubt it will resolve the problem. The only thing I want to make my landlord to take over the bill and be responsible for it. As I mentioned in post tenants from upstairs have bills included so they won't share bill with me..

Thank you for all advices.