Cannot find electricity meter in student flat

Alnat1

Surely the landlord is somehow in breach of contract if he can't show you where your meter is?

Eriberri

I’ve looked in kitchen cupboards. Moved a wardrobe out of the way. Looked in the boiler cupboard - my daughter even looked on top of the boiler last night. 

I’ve just spoken to the letting agents (again) and they’re getting in touch with the landlord today (I thought they’d done that the other day!). I’ve told them that she is not prepared to take over responsibility until we know where the meter is. Also said the landlord was legally responsible (poss winging it there!) 

Thank you for all the replies and ideas - I’ll keep you updated!          

SAC2334

HampshireH said:

Have you looked in all kitchen cupboards?

Not unheard of for meters to be hidden in base units and barely accessible. 

Too true. I was a meter reader for 20 years and many take some finding.One was behind a fridge covered by a piece of board.. Fridge had to be pulled out to get at it and even then I need a mirror on a 3 ft extending pole. This extending mirror was my greatest tool for getting at hidden meters . 
Many  meter fitters  fitting smart meters walk away from these after making up an excuse
Edit, if its a small student flat it could have be converted from a larger flat so  the electric meter/consumer unit could well be immediately  next door in the attached flat  

Eriberri

Meter found! By us….. after I’d been on to the letting agent again! Landlord didn’t know where it was - hasn’t set foot in the property in “years”, and isn’t local 🙄 Letting agent tried to say the landlord had said to contact the provider and that they “have” to send someone out. Told them I’d already spoken to the provider and that they’d pretty much laughed in my face at the suggestion. Said my daughter wouldn’t be taking over the supply until we found the meter, also said it was unreasonable that I (or she) should be chasing around. They said they’d send a contractor out to look for it and update today. 

Daughter and I went to the flat to measure a gap before going to IKEA. Could tell that someone had been in there (sofa had been moved), and whilst there, decided to have another look in the corner where the wardrobe is. There’s a “cupboard” with a hole cut out - I swear I’d looked before, but got daughter to look through the hole, and she realised she could see something. Yep. The meter. If you didn’t look at the right angle, you’d not be able to find it (as we couldn’t). 

Agent called and said the contractor had found it, and in order to access it, we’d have to take the panel off (it’s screwed on). If it was a flipping door, it would make *sense*. So I’ll take the panel off, and leave it off. We could see the numbers, but wasn’t easy to read - and rather than being 21534, it’s 13-something. Rather a difference!!! 

I wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone for all the suggestions, and also to say that you gave me the confidence to persevere and insist on help finding it. You’re all ace xx 

kazwookie

Every time you / daughter read this meter I suggest you take photos as well, to back you up.

Get the reading to the supplier, so your daughter get correct bills

Eriberri

I will do - I’m not getting her set up until I’ve taken that panel off and taken a picture. She ended up using the torch on my phone, and took a picture with her phone, because the angle just doesn’t work with just a phone. Massive faff - so that panel is coming off and staying off! 

karatepet

Glad you got it sorted

SAC2334

It is very odd that the meter is so well hidden as if it was that was the idea to make it hard to inspect . 
Absolutely senseless to put a cover over it too. The reading is nowhere near the estimates neither .Suppliers have historic records of annual usage and normally get estimates somewhere near expected usage 

 Just for peace of mind have a very very good look at the meter especially at the lower cover and the tails which enter from below .Check that the screw which holds this cover on looks pristine and has its security seal in place. Also check that the little red light go s off and is not showing on all the time  when power  is used, it should flash at varying rates . . 
Call me a suspicious old retired ex meter reader if you like but my record for finding fiddled meters was the best in my team and a hidden meter would get me interested 

Eriberri

Thank you @SAC2334 - I’ll have a good inspection of it when I go back with my drill to take the panel off! 

Farway

Maybe while there check the meter registers when you turn things, like a kettle, on & off just to confirm it is "your" meter