KEY METRE Can I change it back?

[1st Time Landlord]

Hi anyone.:?

Couple quick easy questions here I would like answering please.

My tenant has given notice to vacate, & i have reason to believe in the 6 mths they rented the house on an AST they have had the electric metre changed to a key metre.

 

Q: How do I stand? can i get it changed back easily & if their is a charge for this , as a Landlord am I liable for the cost, or can I bill the old tenant? I have not recieved any request referance permission to change.

 

My local makes this easier to ask this forum than phone around or wait on email replies.

Thanks in advanced.

[andrewquinn]

You do not need permission to change the electric meter. They are quite easy to get changed back if you next tenant has a suitable credit history. No charge is applied. I have changed a couple of times with no problems.

[1st Time Landlord]

Thank you Adrewquinn, speedy, efficiant & just what the doc ordered;-}

[Steve__M]

Having had to deal with tenants who left owing £900 in electricity bills, you might consider keeping the meter. In my case, the meter was installed by court order without my knowledge, and the £900 debt was put onto the meter which basically meant you needed to pay 2 or 3 pounds a day on top of the cost of the electricity being used - which is why they left...

 

When you take over the property, contact the supplier to let them know, and make sure there is no debt on the meter.

[andrewquinn]

The energy companies sometimes ask for copies of the tenancy to prove it was not you who racked up the debt.