Disputing Heating Initial Readingsg

Craigdav1993

Hello everyone.

On the 01/03/21 we moved into a rental property flat at 11:00 in the morning. We signed our tenancy agreement and received keys at 10:40 the same day. We had no access to the property prior to that time.

Our flat has central heating with an HIU unit with a smart meter.

We finally received our first heating bill and the initial reading was wrong. The company is billing us starting from 1794 kw instead of the 1829 kw reading at the time of moving in.

This is because the heating was left on by the landlord overnight.

The utility company claims that all readings are automated and that the reading was taken at 00:00 on the 01/03/21 so therefore we should pay for the usage as our tenancy started on 01/03 even though we didn’t move into the property and signed our tenancy agreement until 10:40/11 in the morning.

We have photo evidence of the readings with timestamp.

Is the utility company right or do we have a right to dispute the extra 35 kw we are being charged for?

What actions or law can we refer to dispute the extra kw we didn’t use?

Landlord has gone silent on email conversations.

many thanks!

Robin9

Don't quibble - your flat was warm for when you moved in. 

What's that 35 kWh (not kW )  costing you -  £5 ?

Craigdav1993

It’s a matter of principle, £5 or not its not something we’ve used and therefore should not be liable to pay.

All other utility companies simply ask for the initial readings and update the first bill accordingly.

Reed_Richards

This is a legal issue.  Your rental contract did not become binding until you signed it but if your contract states that the rental runs from 01/03/21 (with no time specified) then the utility company may be right and your responsibility to pay the bill started immediately after midnight.  Also, as @Robin9 pointed out, you did benefit from some of the heat so in that sense you did use that electricity.

JJ_Egan

Also OP you have posted in the OIL and LPG board .

Chase the landlord for your excess payment as he/she put the heating on as a thoughtful gesture . Probably did not even realize as to your excess payment .

But he may be locked up due to you charging him with trespass .

Robin9

@CraigDavid         Do you know what the running cost of the HUI is going to be ?

Reed_Richards

Robin9 said:

@CraigDavid         Do you know what the running cost of the HUI is going to be ?

If it got through 35 kWh in 12 hours in March then that does not bode well.  

QrizB

Craigdav1993 said:

It’s a matter of principle, £5 or not its not something we’ve used and therefore should not be liable to pay.

All other utility companies simply ask for the initial readings and update the first bill accordingly.

Is the opening meter reading recorded on your contract / inventory and agreed by your landlord at the time you took possession? If so, your landlord should reimburse you.

If not then it's a lesson to learn for your next tenency.