Tenant has had the gas cut off and has no intention of reconnecting it.

[DramaLamaDancing]

Yesterday I went to a house we own to do some maintenance with DH (replacing a fence panel that had broken)
After we finished we also wanted to make arrangements to replace the lounge carpet, while I was talking with the tenant DH went to the loo, when he came back he commented that there was no hot water and asked if there was an issue with the boiler (combi) the tenant said no but there wasn't any gas, eventually she told us that she owed the gas company a lot of money and when they came up fit a gas meter (with a warrant) the 'capped' the gas.
She said that she has no intentions of having it reconnected as she doesn't want to pay the bill so is happy to live without heating or hot water until she can sort it out with her ex.
(There is some complicated issue with him supposed to be paying the utilities instead of mantanence)

The boiler is the only gas appliance in the house and it's completely her choice if she wants to live without heating or hot water, even though she has a primary aged child and a toddler (and not her form of water heating no I'm not sure how they are bathing)

I'm worried that it has some implications for us, I told her we could have a gas safe person come and reconnect the gas but she said no as that would mean the prepayment meter would start working and it is one of those that beeps continuously when it is out of credit, and as she has no intention of topping it up (and paying the debt) it would drive her potty beeping away.

Does anyone know if there are any issues with allowing her to just live with the gas cut off like this?

[JsOtherHalf]

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

[Fluffy40]

The Gas company won't discuss it with you I'm afraid, due to DPA.

[DailyFailAreABunchOfCunts]

Encourage her to see CAB. If she can't afford the payment plan the gas company is suggesting (and it does sound steep) then she needs some help to negotiate with them.

However she will need to do this, so you need to sit down with her and gently explain that whilst the warmer months are coming so no heating is OK, come the winter, there needs to be heating - if only to keep it from being damp. Tell her that you aren't trying to pressure her, but damp can cause damage to the house and you want to avoid this - as it will be you footing the bill for putting it right. We're into spring now, so she has a few months to see CAB and come to an agreement with the gas company before it starts to get properly cold again- but she needs to do something as not heating the house indefinitely is not an option.

Been there and got the t-shirt (on both sides of this problem).

[OurBlanche]

They would have to confirm/deny that they were the ones who undertook the capping work if the property owner asked that question. They'd have no need or right to discuss the whys and wherefors though.

[Jeremysfavouriteaunt]

One of our tenants changed the meter to a card meter despite it being against the terms of the letting agreement [mad] . We were furious. There is usually something in the letting terms and conditions that they cannot change the supplier

This is not enforceable in a contract and would be considered an unfair term.

[DontMindMe1]

it sounds like she's in a really stressful situation and is doing her best to cope. i doubt the decision to not have gas was taken lightly when she has kids to look after - and it doesn't sound like she's a bad parent with a 'can't be arsed' attitude. If your only option is to eat or heat - which would you choose?

pre-payment meters take a good chunk of your debt each time you top up. i lived on my own and was unemployed when it happened to me and i found it tough-and she's got kids. i think the best thing to do would be to have a chat over coffee, and see how she's dealing with it. ensure she's getting the right benefits now that she's a single parent and help from CAB re debt management. she will be eligible for HB and she could set it up to be paid directly to you, that way it's one less thing for her to worry about.

she can have her gas reconnected with a different supplier and start afresh. all and any debts associated with her can be dealt with via CAB. By law, so long as she is making a payment towards the debts they cannot take legal action. my debtors wanted £25+ each for their debts per month, i set up a standing order for £100 per month shared between them all. they didn't like it but they had to accept it. that took a massive weight off my mind and shoulders.

[Ughnotagain]

CotswoldStrife you can't stop your tenant changing energy suppliers or having a prepayment meter fitted.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

[MypocketsarelikeNarnia]

Are you sure the dc are ok op?

[DramaLamaDancing]

I've spoken to the tenant this morning, I passed on a lot of the great advice given.
She told me that she has already received a lot of help from the CAB, they helped her negotiate the repayment plans she has and they have spoken with the gas company on her behalf but they have told her there isn't much else they or she can do.

She owes a lot of money but since finding out about all of the debt in her name she has been working to pay it off, all be it slowly, and the total figure has decreased.
The gas company were the only ones that she could not come to an arrangement with.

She told me that she has some little halogen heaters and when it's been really cold she has used them.
The house is a relatively new build and has good insulation, so I'm not overly concerned about damp at this time.

I have no concern for the DC's, things are clearly tough at the moment but she is doing the best she can to get back on her feet.
Her ex is a manipulative, abusive arse and continues to try and and control her, he refuses to pay maintenance as he doesn't trust her so said he will pay the gas and electricity bills, but every month has found a reason to 'punish' her by not paying and says it her fault for doing X/Y/Z.
I've suggested she contact women's aid.

Thank you all for the advice given.

[NameChange30]

It's a shame CAB said they can't do anything more for her. Maybe she only discussed the debts with them and didn't mention the problems with her ex (or maybe she did and they didn't pick up on it).

Ideally they should have advised her to go through CMO for child maintenance. And they could also have given her some contacts for legal advice such as local solicitors and/or the Rights of Women helpline.

Anyway, it's good that you've suggested Women's Aid - hopefully they will help her.

[ImperialBlether]

Does she have an electric shower?

[DramaLamaDancing]

The trouble she has is her ex works for the family business so is easily able to make us look like he earns very little, it seems like a case of 'you do as I say or you get nothing'.
She has told me quite a bit about how awful he has been, but I'm cautious about posting too much on here.

No there is no electric shower, I'm not sure if fitting one would even be an option, the entire bathroom would probably need to be moved around if we wanted to fit one.

She said she has been using the kettle to wash up and has bought a second kettle and has been using two to heat enough water to have shallow baths a couple of times a week.
I think she could tell I was worried about it as she made sure to reassure me that they were coping ok without heating/hot water.

I tried to make it clear I was concerned for her not about her, I hope she understood that.
I don't usually get so involved with my tenants by the way, I just get the impression she doesn't really have anyone (no family) and although o haven't been in her situation I know others who have and I don't know how they would have gotten though it if they were on their own.

[DontMindMe1]

did you tell her she can switch supplier and start a fresh contract with them? she doesn't need to go without gas when there are other options.

[Pisssssedofff]

You say that but new suppliers run credit checks. I had to pay £300 as a deposit to get my electric connected when we arrived back from abroad with no credit history

[DramaLamaDancing]

Small update.
I spoke with the tenant again yesterday and mentioned other advice given on here.

She can't switch suppliers as she owes over £500 and they don't let you switch when you owe over £500 apparently.

I took her a couple of oil filled radiators that we have on our summerhouse, they are cheap to run so I hope she can make use of them.

I've looked into one of those under sink type water heaters, but DH thinks they are too expensive to put in just because she doesn't want to reconnect her gas supply, he also thinks that she must be ok with it if she has been living without it for months already.
I just feel really bad for her, she's had such a tough time and she is a nice person.

[Tribblewithoutacause]

Can I just say you sound like a fabulous landlord (can you be mine).

[specialsubject]

you are indeed and I really hope this doesn't all come back on you.

heating with gas is so much cheaper than with electricity, and sod's law is that were having a really cold April.

the ex is never going to pay if he can help it, so I hope there is some other way out of this.