SSE forceable changed meter in rental and now its flooded
Discussion
Strange one, I get a call to say that new tenants don't have any gas or electricity. Upon further inspection turns out between the time they looked round and moved in SSE had gained access to the property and switched out the meters to 'pay as you go' due to previous tenent not paying.
In doing so they turned off the power to the sump pumps in the cellar and as a result I have 4 feet of ground water in there which has damaged the boiler and left loads of mess everywhere.
Aside from a tenent with no hot water or heating which I'm having to give them free rent, do I have any rights against SSE for the damaged caused?
In doing so they turned off the power to the sump pumps in the cellar and as a result I have 4 feet of ground water in there which has damaged the boiler and left loads of mess everywhere.
Aside from a tenent with no hot water or heating which I'm having to give them free rent, do I have any rights against SSE for the damaged caused?
You have a basement drainage system which is for ground water control or waste water ?
Installed with no back up power supply (UPS or Battery System/ Alarm) or a separate landlord metered mains supply ?
To get 4 feet of water in basement suggests that this pump serves other flats and could be for the main foul drainage system which may also take some rain water connections.
This is one of the problem when people don't pay their utility bills.
I have been involved with a project in London for over 15 years which installed hundreds of basement
pump systems to protect from sewer surcharge (FLIP project - Flooding Local Improvement Project)
Its always been an issue to get a suitable supply from the property but where a landlord was involved with multiple flats it was recommended to connect to the Landlords power distribution board - separate meter.
You may need to look at how this system is connected and if the supply was taken as in this case from the flats own metered supply in question did it have back up system with alarm and a dedicated mains supply at the meter position clearly marked - Sump Pump Do Not Turn Off ?
You may have claim against the supplier but it's likely will say to refer to Ts & Cs
As a landlord you need to get this sorted also check out what sort of pump system you have.
Also to make any claim you will need to produce the pump inspection and service records etc.
Good Luck
Installed with no back up power supply (UPS or Battery System/ Alarm) or a separate landlord metered mains supply ?
To get 4 feet of water in basement suggests that this pump serves other flats and could be for the main foul drainage system which may also take some rain water connections.
This is one of the problem when people don't pay their utility bills.
I have been involved with a project in London for over 15 years which installed hundreds of basement
pump systems to protect from sewer surcharge (FLIP project - Flooding Local Improvement Project)
Its always been an issue to get a suitable supply from the property but where a landlord was involved with multiple flats it was recommended to connect to the Landlords power distribution board - separate meter.
You may need to look at how this system is connected and if the supply was taken as in this case from the flats own metered supply in question did it have back up system with alarm and a dedicated mains supply at the meter position clearly marked - Sump Pump Do Not Turn Off ?
You may have claim against the supplier but it's likely will say to refer to Ts & Cs
As a landlord you need to get this sorted also check out what sort of pump system you have.
Also to make any claim you will need to produce the pump inspection and service records etc.
Good Luck
How did they get access to the property? I assume no-one was living there at the time?
No expert, but surely it wouldn't be hard to prove the damage is as a result of SSE's work, ie. they install a prepay meter which means no power until someone moves in and tops it up. If no-one's there then no power.
Don't they have to contact the owner of the property?
No expert, but surely it wouldn't be hard to prove the damage is as a result of SSE's work, ie. they install a prepay meter which means no power until someone moves in and tops it up. If no-one's there then no power.
Don't they have to contact the owner of the property?
What a pain fir you OP.
In cases like this where there is something a landlord considers an essential service, the usual thing to do is have a dedicated metered supply for this very reason. Uncommon in a domestic arrangement like yours though.
I don't think there will be any comeback on SSE as they have fulfilled their obligation to provide a service. It would have been nice for notification but that might have gone to the property address.
In cases like this where there is something a landlord considers an essential service, the usual thing to do is have a dedicated metered supply for this very reason. Uncommon in a domestic arrangement like yours though.
I don't think there will be any comeback on SSE as they have fulfilled their obligation to provide a service. It would have been nice for notification but that might have gone to the property address.
Smiler. said:
What a pain fir you OP.
In cases like this where there is something a landlord considers an essential service, the usual thing to do is have a dedicated metered supply for this very reason. Uncommon in a domestic arrangement like yours though.
I don't think there will be any comeback on SSE as they have fulfilled their obligation to provide a service. It would have been nice for notification but that might have gone to the property address.
Doesn't that depend on how they gained entry?In cases like this where there is something a landlord considers an essential service, the usual thing to do is have a dedicated metered supply for this very reason. Uncommon in a domestic arrangement like yours though.
I don't think there will be any comeback on SSE as they have fulfilled their obligation to provide a service. It would have been nice for notification but that might have gone to the property address.
Couple of questions-
1) Did they disconnect and replace the metering when the old tenants were there, or after they left?
2) Did you call up to register the account into your name as landlord when the old tenants left?
3) If you did call up and register the account into your name, did you provide a mailing address? They have to hand deliver a letter prior to the disconnection, this is part of the process for getting a ROE warrant at the magistrates court
1) Did they disconnect and replace the metering when the old tenants were there, or after they left?
2) Did you call up to register the account into your name as landlord when the old tenants left?
3) If you did call up and register the account into your name, did you provide a mailing address? They have to hand deliver a letter prior to the disconnection, this is part of the process for getting a ROE warrant at the magistrates court
PurpleMoonlight said:
I hear Land Registry maintain a database which anyone can access for a small charge.
Not their responsibility to look this up and probably illegal to share this information with someone else anyway.There's no obligation on the supplier to find out who owns a property before changing the meter, it is between them and the customer (except in rare cases where the customer may be identified as vulnerable)
PinkFatBunny said:
They came back after the tenent had left, property was empty for about 4 weeks.
Not sure how they got into the property, ie no damage, current assumption is the letting agency left the door unlocked!
Did you tell them the tenant had left? Did you register for supply in your own name to pay for the energy used whilst it was vacant as you're obligated to do?Not sure how they got into the property, ie no damage, current assumption is the letting agency left the door unlocked!
Blue Oval84 said:
Did you tell them the tenant had left? Did you register for supply in your own name to pay for the energy used whilst it was vacant as you're obligated to do?
This. It should have been your name on the contract from the day the previous tenant vacated. Therefore they would have contacted you as the current customer.surveyor_101 said:
KevinCamaroSS said:
This. It should have been your name on the contract from the day the previous tenant vacated. Therefore they would have contacted you as the current customer.
Assuming the landlord hadn't discharge that duty to a managing agent.Unless of course they were informed of the change of tenancy and have proceeded with the disconnection anyway but OP hasn't confirmed either way.
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