Completed buying - vendor refuses to give final utility reading

sheramber

When I moved in to my house the ourgoing vendor did not leave a meter reading.

Nor did they tell the utility company they had moved.

The reading on record were estimates and below the actual readings  taken when I moved in.

It took several months for  me to get a correct bill.

 Fortunately, I had taken weekly readings as it was discovered that the smart gas meter was faulty and not sending readings.

newsgroupmonkey_

RHemmings said:

Unless I've missed something, nobody seems to have asked (and the OP hasn't said) if the property has a smart meter. 

I thought this too. A decent chunk of houses have smart meters.

theartfullodger

You do have I'm sure meter readings (and photos thereof..) of all utilities relevant and copies of letter to council about taking over council tax.  Just use them.

I've never relied on vendors providing meter readings (apart from anything they might be wrong - intentionally or by mistake wrong....)

propertyrental

Yes. Standard procedure on Completion

* check vacant possession

* check condition of property

* change locks

* read meters

If you can't be there yourself, ask a friend or pay someone.

theartfullodger

ideally keeping photos of meters in case there is a later argument

ThorOdinson

Are photos of the meter taken long after competition of much value? They will want to know what the reading was on that day.

Of course if the vendor didn't take photos either then it's going to be impossible for them to work out who owes what.