Tenancy Contract issues

[R0b]

Hoping someone can help or guide me in the right direction, @Crazy council, @Diana M perhaps?

Myself and around 35 tenants have had some issues with our landlord and also the proposed changes to the contract - in short the contract is poorly drafted and conflicts with various provisions but I have one question to ask.

I've been served with a section 21 notice but also with a new tenancy agreement but my main question is that the contract suggests that we are not allowed in any way shape or form to switch energy or utility supplier. I have also heard rumours that the landlord gets some kind of commission for having everyone on the same supplier.

Now ordinarily I know that landlords can't force you to have a certain supplier unless your paying directly to the landlord (competition law reasons and probably unfair contract term) e.g. a fixed fee for rates however is this still the same case where the building was previous a commercial building and there is only one electricity feed going into the building with sub-meters to individual apartments? I think one of the residents has already raised the issue with OFGEM and are looking into it but I'd rather require an answer sooner than later.

My initial view is that regardless of there being one feed, we should be entitled to select our supplier and at our own costs if necessary or alternatively, if there is one feed and we can't switch supplier, then as tenants we should be able to select our own according to the majority rule or where we all tenants agree.

[Crazy council]

Re: Tenancy Contract issues

Hi

you should be able to do it iether way, unless specical and properly contracted against. The supply point starts at the meter, the cabeling is national grid.

I've been served with a section 21 notice but also with a new tenancy agreement but my main question is that the contract suggests that we are not allowed in any way shape or form to switch energy or utility supplier. I have also heard rumours that the landlord gets some kind of commission for having everyone on the same supplier.

I have seen of some deals with suppy cos for blocks of flats, but that alays works in the tenants favour ( rates ). Am faily certan you cant make any monies ( as a LL ) from the suppy of services and you cant restrict who the suppiler is. I think you can do this on newbuilds ( contract tenant into supplier for set period, if you do a deal for fitting with supplier )

How long have you been a tenant there.

[R0b]

Re: Tenancy Contract issues

A tenant since late last year, we we out of our fixed term tenancy so the notice was expected I think because we refused at the time to switch from a fixed utility rate for both water and electricity to normal billing.. though when we raised we wanted to see the current meter reading and possibly look to switch they refused saying we can't.

I have to say following our complaint we have resolved most of the issues its just that if we do feel like switching supplier for whatever reason, just like to know where I would stand and see if I can negotiate this with the landlord as leverage.

I don't think there is an ongoing commission from the landlord but at the time of everyone moving in it has been suggested they received some benefit out of it - which is perhaps why I was thinking that could be why they may be refusing to allow us to switch supplier.

Thanks anyway CC, I think my question has been answered