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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My landlord is making us change gas and electric suppliers!!

49 replies

frazzle26 · 04/09/2011 14:33

The other week all the tenants in our house (three flats) received a letter saying that the landlord has decided that he wants all his houses to be changed over to Southern Electric. Initially, I was not bothered about this as I am already with Southern Electric. However, after receiving a letter from them saying that my gas bill is going up from £45 to £53 per month it suddenly hit home that once this move is made I am stuck with this company and will never be able to shop around.

Am I right to be rather annoyed??

OP posts:

StuckInTheMiddleWithYou · 04/09/2011 14:56

He can't sign a contract on his tenants behalf unless she has specifically given him written permission to do so.

Original poster

frazzle26 · 04/09/2011 14:58

The letter says: "As a service to our tenants and in the interest of utility management we are proposing to transfer all of our properties energy supply to SE. You will benefit from SE's fair pricing policy, enjoy additional account benefits and a simplified settlement of your energy bill when you vacate"

It then goes on to talk about paying by DD and how much I could potentially save. I reckon the landlord must be benefitting from this somehow.

OP posts:

Empusa · 04/09/2011 14:59

He's got to be benefiting somehow. Incredibly dodgy!

StuckInTheMiddleWithYou · 04/09/2011 15:01

Ok, if it's not in your tenancy agreement you do not have to do it. He is "proposing" this. You can probably ignore it if you want to.

StuckInTheMiddleWithYou · 04/09/2011 15:02

I'd take it along to a CAB office if you're worried, but if I got that letter I'd have a bit of laugh at it and forget about it.

Thumbwitch · 04/09/2011 15:05

Lovelycuppa - marginally, yes

pigletmania · 04/09/2011 15:11

Just tell him 'no' you don't want to, there is nothing in the tenancy about this, and as you pay the bills for the flat you will decide what supplier to use. If he kicks up a stink go to CAB

StuckInTheMiddleWithYou · 04/09/2011 15:14

Basically what he is doing, is asking you to move suppliers.

It is your decision, not his.

Flowerista · 04/09/2011 15:15

"in the interest of utility management" is the key phrase. By consolidating with a single suppler he is inevitably getting a discount, you'll find he's doing the same with buildings insurance. The question is whether his tennants benefit from this arrangement. Don't hold your breath.

ShoutyHamster · 04/09/2011 15:18

Write back:

"As a service to our landlord and in the interest of utility management I am proposing to continue to manage the energy supply I pay for in the way I see fit. You will benefit from not being taken to court for harassing your tenants, enjoy additional goodwill benefits in the form of not being investigated by CAB and myself for the kickback you are so obviously intending to make, and a simplified situation where your tenants do not refuse to pay for supplies from a provider with whom they have not agreed a contract.'

LovelyCuppa · 04/09/2011 15:25

Or maybe just write: in the interests of utility management I will continue to choose, manage and pay my own suppliers for both electricity and gas, thank you.

SouthernFriedTofu · 04/09/2011 15:34

we are proposing to transfer all of our properties energy supply to SE

hmmmmmm "proposing" eh? Sounds to me that he isn't telling you anything and can't tell you anything, otherwise it would have been phrased as you will be changing from such and such date

Original poster

frazzle26 · 04/09/2011 15:39

Perhaps I should write back In the interest of my bank balance, I propose to only pay £100 per month rent from now on!!

Let's see what he makes of that!!

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 04/09/2011 15:40

Southern Electric are one of the most expensive companies areound.

zipzap · 04/09/2011 16:42

I'd reply to him and point out that the costs appear to be going up rather than down and query how this reconciles with the claims he was making about fair pricing and savings. I'd also get all your fellow tenants to check and do the same assuming they also find them to be more expensive.

I'd also ask him to prove how much cheaper it is going to be and to show quotes from other providers. And if he can't or won't do this I would also tell him in writing and in person that you are not taking him up on this proposal as it is not providing the benefits that he said it would. Again I would encourage the other tenants to do the same if it isn't going to be cheaper for them. And it's mot like it is very difficult to ring up an energy company to say that you are moving out and here is the meter reading.

Not sure from your posts if he has signed you up or not. If he has and there is nothing in your tenancy agreement against you being in charge of your own energy suppliers, I'd ring up your suppliers and say that you are worried that your supply has been (or might be) changed and that you did not authorise it so can they flag it up and make sure that it is put back or doesn't happen.

Seem to think from other threads about energy suppliers that there are now some strong comebacks if you get changed wrongly so it is worth persuing.

catsareevil · 04/09/2011 17:56

I dont think he can make you do this. The contract is in your name.
He can propose all he likes, but if he could actually force this to happen he would just tell you it was happening, rather than 'proposing'.
I would just ignore it tbh.

orchidee · 04/09/2011 18:24

I'd be wary of this. I suggest you don't sign, and if you do, ensure you see the contract so you know what you are agreeing to and under what circumstances you can cancel.

It is possible that the LL will act as a middleman and resell electricity to each property within the building. If so, the LL can choose the rate that you each pay. It'd potentially be more difficult to get accurate bills and resolve queries or mistakes.

I have a similar situation - I have gas and electricity meters for my home but collectively the entire development pay for some street lighting and other things (another thread). A property management company read the meters for the shared supply (we've no access) and buy electricity from the electricity company then charge each property for their share. We don't see normal bills e.g. old reading, new reading, price per unit. We just get "your share is £xx.yy

Basically, what's in it for you to sign? What's in it for your LL?

Original poster

frazzle26 · 04/09/2011 18:37

To be honest, it seems like it's a pretty "done deal" from the LL's point of view. The DD form even has my address already filled in!! I'm going to be ringing tomorrow and so is my neighbour as neither of us like the idea of being locked into a company for ever.

OP posts:

Empusa · 04/09/2011 18:38

"To be honest, it seems like it's a pretty "done deal" from the LL's point of view"

It can't be. He cannot sign you up for it. If it is down to you to pay, then the contract has to be in your name. And if he's signed you up then he;s done so fraudulently. It is not legal!

Splinters · 04/09/2011 18:50

Doesn't have your signature filled in though does it?

catsareevil · 04/09/2011 18:55

Just chuck the form in the bin. What can your landlord do about it?

Feminine · 04/09/2011 19:07

This is one of the strangest things I have ever heard a LL do.

I can't believe he thinks it would fly!

Don't sign anything and do your own thing.

solvendie · 04/09/2011 19:13

I once moved into a rented flat that had a card meter to pay the gas and electric. I mentioned to the landlord that I would ask the utility company to revert to payments by Direct Debit. The landlord then took it upon himself to contact the energy company trying to arrange for the suppliy to be switched to me. He was trying to help but I felt he was stepping over his remit by arranging this. I spoke to the energy company and they said he had no right to do so unless his name was on the bill. They promptly put an alert on their system to warn that if he contacetd them again they shouldn't speak to him. You could try this.

Another time, my landlord offered to see if he could sort out cheaper energy for me. He was working (commission only) for a utility company and he would get paid if I signed up. He was upfront about this and gave me a quote, which did end up cheaper and I switched.

I don't think that this is uncommon and perhaps your landlord is doing this, too but he is being very underhand by not declaring an interest.

Either way - if it's your name on the bill, you can decide who supplies your energy.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 04/09/2011 19:17

What exactly does your tenancy agreement say?

If it were me, I'd write back saying thanks but no thanks. It sounds to me as if he is hoping that by using pushy letters he can make you all believe you are obliged to do something you're not. Unfortunately some landlords are unscrupulous and will take advantage if they think their tenants may be ignorant of the law (most landlords, obviously, are fine or good, but you get a few nasty types in any cross section of society).

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