Paying for someone else's electricity/ not allowed access to meter!

TAS2

Hi,

I bought a new build flat (leaseholder) and there are issues with the the electricity meters.
They are either labelled with the incorrect flat numbers, or British Gas has the wrong serial number, either way, I am paying for someone else's electricity.

They say they are working on it to get it fixes, but what frustrates me is I'm not allowed to access my meter due to health and safety reasons.
My meters are located in the communal hallway on my floor, and if I need to read it I have to arrange someone to come over and open the door. It takes ages to arrange, and they only come in the day, therefore I have to take a day off work (as I can't WFH)

Is this allowed?

Thanks 

pochase

That is not really energy related. It is more about the management company for your flat.

Is anything in your contract?

markin

Did you see the key they used, it will likely be a common key you can buy on ebay.

You need to turn everything on cooker, electric heaters, kettle everything you can think of to really make it flash like mad, Then take photos to get the S.N and a reading. And ideally have someone else in the flat to turn it all off and watch the meter stop blinking to be sure..

TAS2

pochase said:

That is not really energy related. It is more about the management company for your flat.

Is anything in your contract?

My solicitor hasn't sent me a copy of my signed contract yet, but I'll have a look then, thanks 
I'll delete the thread and post in the property buying thread 

Thanks 

MWT

TAS2 said:

pochase said:

That is not really energy related. It is more about the management company for your flat.

Is anything in your contract?

My solicitor hasn't sent me a copy of my signed contract yet, but I'll have a look then, thanks 
I'll delete the thread and post in the property buying thread

I wouldn't delete this thread, sounds like you may need help still to get the right meter associated with your address.

There is no regulation which requires that you have free access to your electricity meter, and you'll find in flats it is common to have restricted access unfortunately.

EssexHebridean

There won't be anything in the contract, it may well be contained in the lease though - you'll have a copy of that already as it will have been sent to you to read through early in the purchasing process. 

Are the meters in a cupboard or something? Or just behind white panels on the wall? 

SAC2334

I used to work for BG and others for 20 years reading meters and I had the exact same problems accessing communal meter cupboards . If there were crossed meters they could stay like that for years 
There is one block of flats where the meter serial numbers were so mixed up they never actually ever got truly sorted out  in all the years I worked as it needed the flat dweller needed to do a kettle on and off check with a friend  ( for the electric meter ) with someone else in the cupboard on a mobile  to watch the meters to see which meter was suddenly flashing and stopping along with the kettle going on and off . 
A meter reader could not really work it out any other way even if we did manage to find a key holder to the cupboard .We mostly went by serial numbers unless the occupier had put a note on their meter 

Ectophile

There are lots of videos on how to pick locks, on YouTube.