Scottish power illegal entry to property

Chambox1x

Hi

I’m a landlord and tenants moved out August, SP informed and meter readings submitted. 

Beginning of September rang SP again to update the new address of the tenant to forward any outstanding monies owed to new address. 

Property is vacant and has been for 7-8 weeks, property was checked and it’s been entered and meter reading equipment installed without any warrant or consent after the last tenant has moved on and company has been informed. 

This has been reported to the police and an official complaint raised to SP. 

Has anyone ever had this happen to them the property was clearly empty and I had no letters to state they were going to do this. 

Thanks all 

molerat

property was checked and it’s been entered and meter reading equipment installed without any warrant or consent

What is that supposed to mean ?

penners324

How did they enter the property?

Ayr_Rage

If they had obtained the correct warrant and nobody was present then they were probably entitled to enter and fit a prepayment meter if that is what has happened.

nologo

I reckon a SMART meter has been installed?....just guessing..

Chambox1x

penners324 said:

How did they enter the property?

penners324 said:

How did they enter the property?

They must have had a locksmith? All doors locked. 

MattMattMattUK

What equipment was actually installed, a smart meter?

Chambox1x

The property was broken into via a professional locksmith ?? Im presuming ?? a smart meter has been installed with no warrant, that what I’m saying. The previous tenant must have been in arrears?? Again I don’t know? But Scottish power were informed in August and they still did this without informing the property owners 

MattMattMattUK

Chambox1x said:

The property was broken into via a professional locksmith ?? Im presuming ??

It is not breaking in unless they break something...

Chambox1x said:

a smart meter has been installed with no warrant, that what I’m saying.

That is the first time you have said that. How do you know there is no warrant?

Chambox1x said:

The previous tenant must have been in arrears?? Again I don’t know?

Possibly, or the meter reached end of life and they ignored Scottish Power. 

Chambox1x said:

But Scottish power were informed in August and they still did this without informing the property owners 

They will send communication to the address in question, unless there is a redirect in place, which there might be if things are addressed to the previous tenant. 

Ildhund

What communications have you had from SP since the tenants moved out? 

I suspect the answer is 'none'. Perhaps you didn't open an account with SP when you told them about the tenant moving out - you'd have to do this because someone has to be responsible for paying the bill. If you didn't, then as far as SP are concerned, the tenant that left is still the account holder, and it could well be that SP's efforts to contact them - e.g. to demand payment of arrears - have been in vain. 

EssexHebridean

It’s grim that this has happened OP - I’m not surprised that you are trying to get to the bottom of it. 

A few questions from me - and apologies if any of them feel a bit “well of COURSE I’m sure!”

did you change the locks when the tenants left?
it’s not clear to me whether you have been going round to collect post etc - have you? If so, there has been nothing from SP sent to the address? If not - was there anything from them In the post that was there when you visited most recently and discovered the apparent entry?
If what has been fitted it a smart meter, is this in prepayment mode, and does it show a debt balance owing?
and you absolutely certain that in fact the tenants didn’t have a smart meter fitted during their time there, and you just didn’t notice this when you took the end of tenancy reading? 

7-8 weeks sounds pretty swift for a supplier being able to go through due process and successfully get a warrant - and it’s fairly unlikely that they would just choose to waltz in without one to be honest - I’m wondering whether either this pre-dates the tenants leaving or whether in fact it is not SP who have been into the property. 

For those with better knowledge in this area - if it had been SP, and with a warrant, surely they should have left a copy of said warrant in the property when they attended of proof of the how/why they entered?