UK Landlord Forum / Life

Looking for advice please.  My property is let through an agent and is back on the market after the last tenants split up and moved out.  I was told by the agent that I needed to pay to have the electricity key to the meter topped up.... which was a shock as the property did not have a pre-paid meter when I first rented it.  I have done a little online research and it appears that electricity firms may impose the installation of a meter if the customer is in debt without informing the owner of the property.  I am now stuck with a property that is difficult to rent as it has an electric meter installed.  The agent insists it is not a problem, but I fear that there may still be debt owing.  Who is responsible for the debt and how do I go about having the meter removed?

Good afternoon Jules,

I have come across this issue several times as a letting agent.

Firstly assuming there was no debt on the property when the tenants took possession, then the debt outstanding is the responsibility of the tenants. So you can ask your agent to deduct this amount from their deposit. If they no longer have their deposit then you can chase the tenants via the courts to claim it back but for the time involved and potential cost this may not be the best option. You could also maybe speak to your agent, as i assume they we're managing the property and therefore acting in your best interests. Now depending on your terms and conditions signed with your agent they maybe have been responsible to finalize all utilities, if so then it would be their negligence that they haven't resolved this issue for you. But i would suggest that you have a look at your agreement, and also to check the tenancy agreement too.

with regards to the meter, some electricity companies are different. majority will remove the meter providing there is now outstanding monies. What you could do is get your tenants forwarding address and pass this to the electricity company and let them chase the tenants. ask them to reset the meter and then have it removed. If there is a cost to remove the meter this could be chargeable to the tenant too as it is due to them that the meter was installed so the responsibility but it is up to you how far you go.

I hope this helps and good luck with resolving it.

If you would like any further help or advice then visit my website www.direct2landlord.co.uk and email me.

Good luck.

Ive got this problem at 2 properties at the moment.
I called Npower who said they can do what ever they want regarding metres if the T is in debt.
Firstly you need to get the acounts in your name before they will help at all.
They want £60 per metre to remove them but will wipe the debt as soon as you get the account in your name, they do this with the key or card and send a signal to it in the shop when you top up.
The longer you leave it the more YOU will be paying your ex Ts debt.

Ive added the cost of this to the CC claim against one of the Ts

Hope this helps.

Justin

when ever i let a property i put the gas electric and water meter readings on the front page of the tenancy agreement. there is then no dispute as to who is liable for those bills as theyve signed to say those are the readings. one of my houses has a key meter albeit not in debt and the tenants that move in get the key and have to top it up. there is rarely any debt on it as they dont like living in the dark.

if you are chased by or get a bill from a utility company simply give them dates of when new tenants moved in and when old ones moved out and give them names and forwarding address if you have it. dont put the meters in your name in the first place ideally. really its up to the new teannts to confirm their details to suppliers and get the bills sorted. where there are gaps between tenants moving in and out there is rarely a large amount of electric gas or water used!
hope this helps as i have never paid a bill on behalf of a good or a bad tenant-its their bill!!
   

Thanks everyone, it is unfortunate that the electricity meter was the least of the problems!  I went back to the UK over Christmas and told the agent that I wanted to personally see the property and tidy the garden.  My word, the ex-tenants have trashed the place!  A car full of junk had to be removed from the garden (including an old ironing board stuffed behind a shed), solid wood kitchen worktop broken and rotten, new carpets I paid for 2 years ago stained and filthy, oven was scrubbed and cleaned to the extent that the numbers on the dials were scrubbed off leaving the thing unuseable, bathroom window ledge scorched/burnt from what looks like candles, newly painted walls all scratched.  Agent was telling me that the property was in good order although they were surprised it is still unlet after 4 months! 

The electricity meter debt is with the ex-tenants and being chased by the electricity company.   The deposit was signed over to the agency in lieu of unpaid rent but it is going to cost an awful lot more than 2 months' rent to repair the damage.

My first experience of renting what was a beautiful little cottage has left a very bitter taste and I get quite cross reading that all landlords are greedy so-and-sos! 

Hi Jules

Not sure if you still post here but your post back in 2013 is the same problem as I see myself facing.

Can you advise what the electricity company did regards to the arrears on the meter?

Thanks