Help - utility supplier refusing to re-connect supply
Discussion
I'll try to be as brief as possible.
Owner leases an industrial unit to a scumbag (an individual).
Written leases effected.
Scumbag uses the unit to grow illegal drugs unbeknown to landlord.
First landlord knows is when the police make contact having broken in and seized the lot (to basically tell the owner the unit needs securing). The utility supplier were apparently present and they disconnected the meter and supply. This was six weeks into the tenancy.
The landlord did inform the utility company of cessation of liability at the time of the tenant taking occupation. The new tenant did not apparently register for the supply.
Utility company now trying to get cost of electricity from owner - £25,000. They refuse to accept the Lease as valid. Refuse to accept proof of payment of rent. They maintain the growth of the plants exceeded the time the tenant was supposedly in occupation, it has been pointed out that part grown plants could have been moved in but they refuse to accept that. They now want a police statement confirming they are not investigating the owner for the crime to consider the matter any further.
Utility company refuses to re-connect the supply and install an new meter until charges paid.
Owner has a new tenant wanting to occupy.
Any suggestions please?
Owner leases an industrial unit to a scumbag (an individual).
Written leases effected.
Scumbag uses the unit to grow illegal drugs unbeknown to landlord.
First landlord knows is when the police make contact having broken in and seized the lot (to basically tell the owner the unit needs securing). The utility supplier were apparently present and they disconnected the meter and supply. This was six weeks into the tenancy.
The landlord did inform the utility company of cessation of liability at the time of the tenant taking occupation. The new tenant did not apparently register for the supply.
Utility company now trying to get cost of electricity from owner - £25,000. They refuse to accept the Lease as valid. Refuse to accept proof of payment of rent. They maintain the growth of the plants exceeded the time the tenant was supposedly in occupation, it has been pointed out that part grown plants could have been moved in but they refuse to accept that. They now want a police statement confirming they are not investigating the owner for the crime to consider the matter any further.
Utility company refuses to re-connect the supply and install an new meter until charges paid.
Owner has a new tenant wanting to occupy.
Any suggestions please?
PurpleMoonlight said:
They maintain the growth of the plants exceeded the time the tenant was supposedly in occupation...
Who is their expert advisor, Cheech and Chong?You need to make a commercial decision here.
£25,000 on the table already, and X per day that you don't let the unit. As has been said above, getting a decent solicitor involved would be a good investment, and may very well save you money in the long run.
I would make it quite clear I will not pay them or enter into any deal at all and invite the supplier to sue me for the money immediately. They either do that and accuse me publicly of having grown the weed using their power or they back down and write it off. Once it's written off they will have no grounds not to reconnect, in fact a statutory responsibility too reconnect I think.
If they accused me and couldn't prove it the 25k would look cheap compared to what I would take them for.
Nothing to do with the police or their opinion, it's civil and it's between you and the supplier.
If they accused me and couldn't prove it the 25k would look cheap compared to what I would take them for.
Nothing to do with the police or their opinion, it's civil and it's between you and the supplier.
fatjon said:
Nothing to do with the police or their opinion, it's civil and it's between you and the supplier.
I agree to a large extent. The problem is they hold all the cards at the moment and without a supply the unit is worthless.I really need a way to force them to reconnect while the dispute over the liability for the useage is ongoing.
Making a few assumptions here for sure but things just don't add up.
Industrial unit at £12K per annum, I'd guess dependent where in the country this is between 500sq ft (inside the M25) and 5000 sq ft in a deprived industrial area, either way fairly small so likely to have a 3 phase supply between 100-300amp certainly it would be unlikely to have a half hourly meter or a big supply.
I'm in a situation where I'm running a 100 amp 3 phase supply at absolute maximum for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week day, to the degree where the supplier keeps sending letters and saying that we are going to have to have the road up and pay for a heftier supply to be installed as we keep peaking above the supply limit. I have an electricity bill around £1K per month. I simply can't see how anyone in a £1000/month unit can use £25K's worth of power in 6 weeks, it would have melted the road.
Industrial unit at £12K per annum, I'd guess dependent where in the country this is between 500sq ft (inside the M25) and 5000 sq ft in a deprived industrial area, either way fairly small so likely to have a 3 phase supply between 100-300amp certainly it would be unlikely to have a half hourly meter or a big supply.
I'm in a situation where I'm running a 100 amp 3 phase supply at absolute maximum for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week day, to the degree where the supplier keeps sending letters and saying that we are going to have to have the road up and pay for a heftier supply to be installed as we keep peaking above the supply limit. I have an electricity bill around £1K per month. I simply can't see how anyone in a £1000/month unit can use £25K's worth of power in 6 weeks, it would have melted the road.
mel said:
Making a few assumptions here for sure but things just don't add up.
Industrial unit at £12K per annum, I'd guess dependent where in the country this is between 500sq ft (inside the M25) and 5000 sq ft in a deprived industrial area, either way fairly small so likely to have a 3 phase supply between 100-300amp certainly it would be unlikely to have a half hourly meter or a big supply.
I'm in a situation where I'm running a 100 amp 3 phase supply at absolute maximum for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week day, to the degree where the supplier keeps sending letters and saying that we are going to have to have the road up and pay for a heftier supply to be installed as we keep peaking above the supply limit. I have an electricity bill around £1K per month. I simply can't see how anyone in a £1000/month unit can use £25K's worth of power in 6 weeks, it would have melted the road.
Interesting, thanks.Industrial unit at £12K per annum, I'd guess dependent where in the country this is between 500sq ft (inside the M25) and 5000 sq ft in a deprived industrial area, either way fairly small so likely to have a 3 phase supply between 100-300amp certainly it would be unlikely to have a half hourly meter or a big supply.
I'm in a situation where I'm running a 100 amp 3 phase supply at absolute maximum for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week day, to the degree where the supplier keeps sending letters and saying that we are going to have to have the road up and pay for a heftier supply to be installed as we keep peaking above the supply limit. I have an electricity bill around £1K per month. I simply can't see how anyone in a £1000/month unit can use £25K's worth of power in 6 weeks, it would have melted the road.
Who disconnected? DNO or supplier?
Under which statutory power did they disconnect? Unpaid charges, illegal use of electricity or otherwise? Did they give the statutory notice 7 days before disconnecting?
They have a duty to supply, with limited exemptions. Ask them under what exemption they are refusing to connect your premises.
Under which statutory power did they disconnect? Unpaid charges, illegal use of electricity or otherwise? Did they give the statutory notice 7 days before disconnecting?
They have a duty to supply, with limited exemptions. Ask them under what exemption they are refusing to connect your premises.
Countdown said:
I'm surprised that the tenants didn't bypass the meter.
I think they did based on the comments from the police (which I only know second hand), but as the owner did not see what had happened before the utility company removed the meter and made safe it's difficult to be certain.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff