Help! Been paying neighbours electric bill for 14 years!

sonypc100

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

the standing charge has only increased rapidly the last couple of years.

Don't suppose you have any old bills from 14 years ago in a box in the attic.

Sadly not, I guess we could work it out from data showing the average for each year

ArbitraryRandom

sonypc100 said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Netexporter said:

sonypc100 said:

Aside of usage and I’ve no idea how much the standing charge has increased over the years but in today’s money at 0.52 a day over 14 years we are around £2.5k 

But you'd be paying that, anyway.

Potentially half that if there's a sub-meter arrangement going forward. 

sonypc100 said:

Aside of usage and I’ve no idea how much the standing charge has increased over the years but in today’s money at 0.52 a day over 14 years we are around £2.5k 

It's already been pointed out you can't legally pursue a debt from longer than 6 years ago - trying would probably just alienate your neighbour and result in a dispute that you would have to declare if/when you want to sell.

As for the amount - It depends on the fix you were on, but back in 2021 I was paying 14.42p per day (which would be £52.63 per year) and in 2022 it was 23.74p (£86.65).

So I'd think the highest you could 'reasonably' estimate would be £600 for the standing charges - and you should have paid half, meaning the neighbour probably owes you around £300ish... hence saying the cost of installing sub meters probably balances it out if there's no reason to think more than very minimal use for lighting. 

ArbitraryRandom said:

Netexporter said:

sonypc100 said:

Aside of usage and I’ve no idea how much the standing charge has increased over the years but in today’s money at 0.52 a day over 14 years we are around £2.5k 

But you'd be paying that, anyway.

Potentially half that if there's a sub-meter arrangement going forward. 

sonypc100 said:

Aside of usage and I’ve no idea how much the standing charge has increased over the years but in today’s money at 0.52 a day over 14 years we are around £2.5k 

It's already been pointed out you can't legally pursue a debt from longer than 6 years ago - trying would probably just alienate your neighbour and result in a dispute that you would have to declare if/when you want to sell.

As for the amount - It depends on the fix you were on, but back in 2021 I was paying 14.42p per day (which would be £52.63 per year) and in 2022 it was 23.74p (£86.65).

So I'd think the highest you could 'reasonably' estimate would be £600 for the standing charges - and you should have paid half, meaning the neighbour probably owes you around £300ish... hence saying the cost of installing sub meters probably balances it out if there's no reason to think more than very minimal use for lighting. 

I'm really not looking to claim back anything, I think a reasonable outcome would be for Garage 2 to pay for any splitting or sub meter work and we call it quits.

Either way, having an estimate might be helpful for your neighbour to consider if the proposal is reasonable or not  

MultiFuelBurner

This is going to sound a bit weird so bear with me.........

Talk to your neighbour they may well be very amicable and if you already know they won't be amicable then they won't go for paying for a sub meter and it's going to be a painful conclusion.

deano2099

Are you absolutely sure they haven't been paying anything? They're not submitting the same meter readings and so you're collectively being double charged? And there's no chance their garage electrics are run off their house supply (is their house nearer the garages) whereas yours is separate? 

You need a conversation with your neighbour and to collectively look at the deeds for both houses to see what they actually say.

Reed_Richards

I don't understand how submetering would work.  If the other flat gets a sub meter for their garage, do they pay you for the electricity they use?  At what tariff?  Are they supposed to share the standing charge?  

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Reed_Richards said:

I don't understand how submetering would work.  If the other flat gets a sub meter for their garage, do they pay you for the electricity they use?  At what tariff?  Are they supposed to share the standing charge?  

OP would get the bill. they would split the standing charge then each pay for units used at whatever the unit price was. with vat split accordingly.

sonypc100

deano2099 said:

Are you absolutely sure they haven't been paying anything? They're not submitting the same meter readings and so you're collectively being double charged? And there's no chance their garage electrics are run off their house supply (is their house nearer the garages) whereas yours is separate? 

You need a conversation with your neighbour and to collectively look at the deeds for both houses to see what they actually say.

I’ve just spoken to the landlady she’s in her 80s now but used to live in the property that has Garage 2 around 40 years ago, she has a vague recollection that there is only 1 meter and that I pay the bill rather than her property 

sonypc100

Reed_Richards said:

I don't understand how submetering would work.  If the other flat gets a sub meter for their garage, do they pay you for the electricity they use?  At what tariff?  Are they supposed to share the standing charge?  

Yes all good questions, hopefully someone will answer

sonypc100

Just spoken to the power grid they have said all Garage 2’s feeds need removing from my meter they then need setting up on their own meter and then an MPAN will be created to then go to suppliers to provide electric and billing 

Cost £3200 + VAT approx 

PennineAcute

sonypc100 said:

Just spoken to the power grid they have said all Garage 2’s feeds need removing from my meter they then need setting up on their own meter and then an MPAN will be created to then go to suppliers to provide electric and billing 

Cost £3200 + VAT approx 

Is that for the whole lot, or just removing the feeds from your meter? 

If for everything, can you not just remove the feeds from your meter?