UK Landlord Forum / Life

When my lodgers first moved in I was in credit for my joint electricity and gas bill, 6 months later it has gone up to a debit of £577. We shared the bill but as it is still rising I am questioning their use of electricity consumption. From july till september the electricity has risen by another £136.
One of the lodgers, they are a couple; works from as an animator I am beginning to question them about this extra usage but they a claiming they have cut back.
It now seems obvious to me that the rise has come from this home business one of them is running with computer internet running 24 hrs at times.

Be great to hear what people think.

I want to ask them to leave. I am getting a smart meter fitted but I think they are being unreasonable and not holding their responsibility.

If I am left with a large bill I will have take it from their deposit.

Many thanks for reading

I would be grateful for any thoughts

Quote from: alison23 on September 17, 2018, 08:58:38 PMIf I am left with a large bill I will have take it from their deposit.

Surely only if they haven't paid their share? If you agreed that the bills would be split - evenly, 66-33, whatever - and they're holding up to their end, then you'll have trouble changing the deal half-way through simply because it's not working-out to your liking. Use it as a learning experience, draft your agreements better in the future.

Just for info, as part of my day job I need to track the usage of every office device I run in order to claim expenses.

I run a router/modem, a VPN, two computers with large monitors, an IP phone, a printer, external disks, lighting and an electric heater.

All this is measured by a three pin meter plugged into the socket feeding everything.

For the last measured 12 month period this came in at just under 1100W.  A cost of £149 for the whole year

I cant believe the increase you are seeing is due to the costs of a home office.

There is something else going on here that you have not spotted.

Have you checked that the meter readings are actual and not estimated.

Good luck, and let us know when you get to the bottom of it

are your lodgers into indoor gardening  by any chance? , have they access to the loft space ?

Yes Spuds,My thoughts entirely.A huge increase in electricity for the hottest summer on record?

However you might want to check that your contract (perhaps fixed rate?) with your supplier has not come to an end. The supplier wouldn't necessarily tell you, it would just bill you at the new rate.

Just a thought

Im just about to start renting out soon and I have done quite a bit of questioning about this.  Top up cards, direct debit.  What if I get stuck with the bill etc.  Im also having smart meters fitted this Monday actually.  I asked various questions and basically I am going to ensure the tenants sign up with BG.  I will check the reading with them before hand and stop my payments and that is where theirs begin.  I also asked if I would be cut off if they didn't pay and BG said no.  At one stage I was thinking of doing what you are doing but though what would happen if they ran the bills up by leaving things on all night etc.  I would arrange with your supplier to stop your payments and request the tenant/s arrange their own bills by signing up to the supplier themselves.


All the best H

Quote from: CuriousH on September 27, 2018, 02:08:47 PM...and basically I am going to ensure the tenants sign up with BG.

...and basically you can't do this. You can have BG providing utilities to a property as you let it, and you can even write into your AST that they can't change supplier - but you can't stop them. That said, if the property is already with BG most people are lazy enough to leave it.

Quote from: CuriousH on September 27, 2018, 02:08:47 PM
Im just about to start renting out soon and I have done quite a bit of questioning about this.  Top up cards, direct debit.  What if I get stuck with the bill etc.  Im also having smart meters fitted this Monday actually.  I asked various questions and basically I am going to ensure the tenants sign up with BG.  I will check the reading with them before hand and stop my payments and that is where theirs begin.  I also asked if I would be cut off if they didn't pay and BG said no.  At one stage I was thinking of doing what you are doing but though what would happen if they ran the bills up by leaving things on all night etc.  I would arrange with your supplier to stop your payments and request the tenant/s arrange their own bills by signing up to the supplier themselves.


All the best H

You have no right to dictate which utility companies your tenants use.  That is their choice.