do i need to have landlords suggestion of gas/electricity supply

koniva · 30th August 2006, 22:34

Hallo there,

just had a look through the section and couldn't find this one, hence the question.

we just moved in a new flat. the contract states that i have to use the gas and electricity supplier already in place (utility warehouse). i did discuss this with the letting agent and was told from their point of view i am free to chose any supplier. thereafter i signed (but failed to document the result of the discussion with letting agency in contract).

as utility warehouse is not cheap (and there is a possibility the LL will have some financial advantage by me being a UW costomer) i want to change.

i asked to get the LL address but to no avail yet (i wanted to discuss this with him directly).

where does this leave me? can i just change the supplier or do i run into troubles as i have signed the contract?

many thanks

ozzywizard · 1st September 2006, 09:30

To my knowledge it depends how the contract is worded. However it is your choice of which supplier you use.
Is it a prepayment meter or credit meter ?
Also whose name is the supply in at utility warehouse, im trying to work out what is in it for him.

As long as the meter and supply is uninterupted i do not see his problem.
The bill payer and account holder is fully responsible for supply.
Thats like saying you gotta shop at Asda and only Asda.

meagain · 2nd September 2006, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by koniva

i asked to get the LL address but to no avail yet (i wanted to discuss this with him directly).

Under one of the various Landlord and Tenant Acts (I think this might be provided in the 1985 Act?) the tenant is entitled to be provided with a correspondence address at which papers may be served. Until they provide you with this, rent is not due. As I understand it, this doesn't cover incidental discovery - you can find the landlord's address in various ways, but the duty to furnish information still lies with the landlord.

Rich44 · 2nd September 2006, 17:51

and how do they intend to find out if you have changed them?

ozzywizard · 4th September 2006, 13:22

Thats right Rich, under Data Protection Act suppliers cannot and should not give info to landlord.

meagain · 4th September 2006, 15:15

However, as we all know, "cannot" and "should not" does not imply "will not".

Rich44 · 4th September 2006, 15:41

yeah and if they do then off to court you go for handing out your personal information

ozzywizard · 4th September 2006, 15:59

Quote:

However, as we all know, "cannot" and "should not" does not imply "will not".

Ha ! exactly, thats why I worded it that way. . . .

callumsgran · 12th September 2006, 17:05

Our landlords address is on our lease contract, we were told by our letting agent that this a legal reqirement!

meagain · 12th September 2006, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by cillitbanger

Our landlords address is on our lease contract, we were told by our letting agent that this a legal reqirement!

Of course it is, but that didn't stop my last landlord harassing me for rent, despite having never notified me of her address during the entire year I was in the property!

Nightmare4banks · 12th September 2006, 17:29

Hi all!

koniva,in reply to your post:

Based on what you have mentioned and in my opinion:

1.The clause in agreement is unfair because it is YOU is paying the utility bill and not the landlord/agent.However,you should make sure to take the first reading and last reading when you vacate the property.Then pass the reading onto the agent/landlord.Maybe he has several properties and gets a discount.Who knows?

2.To not give you the landlord's details is a criminal offence.However,if you stop paying your rent you could get you easily evicted but of course only with a court order.In reality the law is an ass! It is a catch 22 situation.

3.I would suggest that you go back to the letting agent and request that the utility bill clause be removed because it is contrary to what you had discussed with the agent and see what happens.

I hope you find the suggestions/information useful.

If you have more questions,just ask.

Keep us posted.

All the best!

ozzywizard · 12th September 2006, 17:34

Quote:

Then pass the reading onto the agent/landlord.Maybe he has several properties and gets a discount.Who knows?

I have never heard of no such discount. I know powergen does not have one.

koniva · 12th September 2006, 22:06

Thanks to all of you.
I have tried to get the LL addres from the letting agency. despite 4 emails no response. i also called twice.
it is very difficult to have a functioning professional relationship if the other part doesnt answer. in the mean time the curtains+holder came down (nearly pearcing my partner in the process of it) water came through the wall and despite emailing the letting agency (photos attached) no response.
although i hate to do that i think they see how far they can go.

it looks like a real bad letting agent/LL combo.

Ozzywizard: i found out in the mean time that utility warehouse customers may be also UW salespersons. their way is to stimulate you to get more customers and they bribe you with discounts. basically: it is quite possible that me paying UW makes my LL getting a discount.

Nightmare4banks · 12th September 2006, 22:41

Koniva,I would suggest that:

1.You contact The Private Tenants Officer within Council of the locality that you reside in.The officer will contact the agent/landlord on you behalf and at no cost to you whatsoever.

2.The Council has the powers to compel landlords and agents to comply with their obligations towards their tenants.

I hope you find this information useful.

If you have any more questions,just ask.

Keep us posted.

All the best!

jaidxx · 12th September 2006, 22:58

As far as I am aware, you can change the supplies only if you have 6 months or more left to run on your tenancy. Seeing that most properties are let on a 6 month tenancy, it may be difficult to get your landlord to give permission.
Most landlords allow it - not sure why he wouldnt want you to, doesnt change anything for him.

simonjohn · 15th September 2006, 21:34

I used to work, in the utillities market as an engineer. Since deregulation and the opening of the markets, as a consumer, either a property owner or tennant is free to choose their supplier. While it may be common curtesey to inform your landlord of change of supply, you are not contractually obliged to do so, this extends to the supply of a water meter. The only exception to this is if the supply is owned by the landlord and they are supplying their tennants via their own metering.

This is covered under THE SUPPLY SAFETY & CONTINUITY REGULATIONS 2002.

Also take a look at Energywatch.co.uk

simonjohn · 15th September 2006, 21:53

[quote=simonjohn]I used to work, in the utillities market as an engineer. Since deregulation and the opening of the markets, as a consumer, either a property owner or tennant is free to choose their supplier. While it may be common curtesey to inform your landlord of change of supply, you are not contractually obliged to do so, this extends to the supply of a water meter. The only exception to this is if the supply is owned by the landlord and they are supplying their tennants via their own metering.

This is covered under THE SUPPLY SAFETY & CONTINUITY REGULATIONS 2002.

Also take a look at [url=http://www.energywatch.co.uk]Energywatch.co.uk

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