Landlord charging for bills

[kirinm]

We’ve been living in a rental following the sale of our flat. We are finally about to complete on our purchase and have handed in our notice.

When we moved in, we tried to have all of the bills transferred into our names. We succeeded with the water bill and council tax but as the landlord has only ever let the house out as an air BnB, he was a bit funny about us transferring the electricity and gas accounts to us. We agreed that he’d keep the accounts in his name and he’d bill us. Despite us repeatedly asking for the bills he didn’t do it. Now we’ve handed in our notice, he’s apparently finally been able to work out what we owe and is going to dump a 10 month bill on us.

I’m quite pissed off about this. This wasn’t what was agreed and he basically didn’t know what he was doing as a non-professional landlord so didn’t get himself together. It is complicated by the fact he lives directly behind us in a house he built in the garden. Given the size of our water bill, I think it’s possible some of the accounts cover his house and ours.

Anyway, surely having not invoiced us for a period of (I think) 10 months now despite us asking repeatedly, its unreasonable for him to present us with a massive bill at the end? We will pay it (although we will be pushing for reductions because of how shit the house is) but it’s come at the worst time.

No, I think a landlord who refuses to do what he should do and then wants to dump a 10 month bill on you - shouldn’t really be allowed to do that.

I generally think most landlords are awful people. Are you one?

Hope that all goes well with move out and purchase

@kirinm unless and until the landlord provides you with a proper utility bill that evidences what you owe, you should not pay him anything. Legally you had the right to have the bill in your name. If he chose to manage your account alongside his, he must evidence that because it is illegal for a landlord to profit from selling utilities to tenants. If and when he provides you with a proper bill, you may wish to consider offering him a payment plan over 10 months. You have no right to refuse to pay though.
Everything else you are complaining about is irrelevant (to this issue) and par for the course with landlords ime. Good luck in your new home.

Was the electricity just turning the switch back on? Was it earth leakage or faulty equipment plugged in? Or major re-wiring required?

I’m not an electrician so don’t know the actual fault but no. We had to have UKPN out because the main fuse had blown (terminology may not be correct). DP couldn’t touch anything outside the house as that falls into UKPN territory. The sole reason we were able to get it fixed that day is because DP is an electrician and persuaded UKPN to stay until he had fixed whatever the issue was inside the house before replacing the main fuse. UKPN would ordinarily leave and have to come back once an electrician has been.

We had no power all day and it wasn’t back on until 10pm. The LL has never even thanked my partner for that. I expect we’d be sitting in the dark still if he hadn’t fixed it.

This. What did you think was going to happen? He'd waive them?

I did respond to this but on the wrong post. Just switching it back on? Involving UKPN and an electrician for hours? No it was more involved than that!

UKPN just stood by and agreed to wait until your DH had done the work?

how long did he wait for?

Your landlord sounds like an arse, but that doesn't legally or morally excuse you from paying for the electricity you used so I'm not sure why you're so angry about it

Yes they did. I assume you think I’m making all of this up. I’ve no idea why I would want to do that.

I don’t think you’re making it up

how long did the work take?

He also added an isolator. And they don’t even charge. Who knew.

Ok

how long did the work take?

DP carried out fault finding before picking DD up from school. Identified an issue and called UKPN (as he can’t touch the main fuse). UKPN came at some point between 6-7pm and then power was back at about 9:30-10pm.

I’ve literally just checked my text messages. Want any more info?

Sounds perfectly plausible my partner works for the "other" largest electricity distributor and they are a) very hot on customer satisfaction and b) much happier to be out on a easy 'job' rather than stuck in the yard being found busy work or out up a pole

So the electrical work took between 6-7pm

fine
charge LL for an hours work
Plus any materials

How long ago was this?

Oh I don’t doubt the op

but I looks like her partner did an hour’s work. So he should charge the LL

I didn’t realise that UKPN have engineers sat in vans sort of on call waiting for problems. Very useful.

He didn’t do an hours work. He did about 3 hours work. He found the fault, called UKPN, worked out how to fix the fault, fixed the fault. And the landlord will be charged his call out rate as that would be what he’d have paid if he’d have found an emergency electrician. Which he didn’t even offer to do.

Mind your own business. Jesus Christ. Are you my landlord?!

All good then

when did it happen?

Get that invoice over to him sharpish i would!

UKPN came to remove the main fuse ONLY (although they did a bit extra). UKPN are the only people who should be touching a main fuse / metre. They didn’t offer to fix the fault inside the house obviously 🙄

19th September so we’ve got another 8 months to get the invoice to him.