Question


Tia Ban...

Electricity Charges and a dodgy landlord!?

I am renting a flat through a private landlord. I recently got my first quarterly electricity bill from him for £780. I know this is too much because its a one bedroom flat which my boyfriend and I share. The problem is the bill came straight from the landlord written in Word format. It wasnt from E.ON, the electricity company he uses. We discovered we were paying business rates as part of the building (which the landlord also owns) is office space. We've been fighting this for some weeks now but he wont budge. We've asked him to send us a copy of the original itemised bill from E.ON but he won't. He has since installed a new meter. Where do we stand legally? Should we pay the bill and fight it later? He is quite shrewd and sneaky and probably thought he could make some easy money out of us.

9 months ago - 6 answers

Best Answer

Chosen by Asker

DON'T pay it... it will be harder for you to get it out of him after. Do you have a meter ? If you don't then he will of needed to include the electricity in the rent. Read your tenancy agreement if he hasn't mentioned leccy in there he hasn't got a leg to stand on. I'd reply with "there seems to be a mistake, can you explain the method in which you came to this figure?" Take it from there... He might of made a mistake and sent you the whole bill not just a small share, not all landlords are a$$holes (I'm one;-) Mail me with more information / further updates if you want. Have you already paid electricity in the past ?

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by miles_willy

9 months ago

Asker's Rating: 

Other Answers

Hmmm, this guy seems sketchy. I'd get on that s#!& pronto. Don't take his stuff, threaten him.

by Tyler C- 9 months ago

You could see a lawyer, but that also will cost you. Go and see your Landlord and discuss it properly and civilly ...and ask to see proof of why he is charging you this.

by B0uncingMoonman@aol.com- 9 months ago

Go straight to a lawyer

by happyhitler- 9 months ago

I'm in Canada and from the sound of your question you are in England. Inquire into a Tenant Rights Association in your community. Here there is a Tenant-Landlord Association run by the province that I live in, knowing the in and outs of the legal system, they help with these matters. Here the best way to handle these things is to write a registered letter to your Landlord, requesting a copy of the actual bill, if he does not comply, then there is a date set for the hearing at the association. My advice to you, is to pay the bill as it stands and get reimbursement later, verbal agreements are often difficult to prove, get everything written down and find out if their is a place to get information on this sort of thing where you are.

by Annie- 9 months ago

Contact your local tenants rights board and see what the laws are regarding meters. In most places if you do not have an independant meter electricity is to be inclusive of rent. If you do have your own meter - send him a notorized letter stating that you will provide payement for your electric costs for your unit only once an itemized bill (corresponding to your individual meter) is produced.

by smedrik- 9 months ago