No Access To Electric Meter

[bollyboy]

We purchase our property 10 years ago. It was once apart of a larger house which is now 3 flats. The conversion took place in 1966. The electric meter for the 3 flats in the main house and our house are all in the downstairs hallway in the main house. The main house residents or their tenants were given a private right of way on foot only across our yard to the next street which is subject to our property running and maintaining gas, Electricity etal. through the downstairs hallway. The new owner of the main house says we have no right to enter the hallway to read our meter.

[EDDIE51]

Smart meters are intended to be in all houses by 2020 , they do not need reading as they send the reading direct to the power company by using built in mobile phone technology. You can also see the reading on your computer or mobile phone . So why not jump the queue and ask for a smart meter , then you will not need to worry about reading it. A meter gas or electric remains the property of the power company so the property owner can not refuse the power company or the companys customer access to their meter.

[murraymints]

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question512492.html

see here

[bollyboy]

Thanks, we did ask NPower for a smart meter... they said we should get one in the next few years

[ladybirder]

If it's in your lease, she can't legally stop you.

[bollyboy]

Thank you ladybirder.
It is in the title deeds that they have a private right of way on foot only over my yard to get to the next road. I was rarely used until this new freeholder of the main house bought the middle flat (flat 2) as her holiday home. We had always had a key to let ourselves in and read the meter. She says that the tittle deeds do not give us permission to enter the downstairs hallway (conual to all 3 flats of her property) our property had always let ourselves in to read the meter. I have told her that if we can't read our meter freely than she does not have a right across our land as without one there ain't no other.

[bednobs]

if finding this difficult to understand - if your flat is in the downstairs corridor, how can you not have access to that corridor?

[bollyboy]

Hi bednobs.
The house was once a four storey large house built in 1866.
In 1966 the main part of the house was divided into flats. flat 1, ground floor, flat 2 second floor and flat 3 has the two top floors. At the rear of the house was a cottage attached to the main house by a downstairs door and a first floor door. Cottage has two floors. When the property was divided my bit at the back, the cottage became a separate freehold and the main house was turned into 2 leasehold flats and flat 2 took the freehold. In our "Home Buyers Survey the easement to view our electric meter and therefore enter the downstairs hallway of the main house is explained as a flying freehold.

[gingejbee]

Tell NPower of your difficulty and ask them to have the meter read by their staff/agents...see if the new owner gets stroppy with them!
I believe that NPower has a statutory right to access (what is) their own property.

[bollyboy]

Than you yes I did that as soon as she started blocking our access. Npower sent out a meter reader who refused to read it as it was positioned to high up. Npower started to send estimates that we said we would not pay as they had the right to enter and take a proper reading themselves. They now refuse to do anything about the situation and we have to email this horrible woman and ask her to please read our meter for us! Its not only a bizarre situation but it's also demoralizing.

[ladybirder]

Don't some people enjoy making others' lives difficult! Try what ginger has said and if that doesn't work I'm going to be boring and suggest Citizens Advice. If you can get a bit of time with them and/or their solicitor you will hopefully get some good advice on the best way to deal with this lady. But first have a look on this and see if it helps.
https://www.lease-advice.org

[dannyk13]

Unless you have any objection, it would seem that the easiest way out of this predicament is to follow Eddie's advice and get a smart meter installed.

[gingejbee]

....so, the NPower meter reader refused to read it because it was too high - but they expect you to read it instead? Crazy!
Remind them that it's THEIR meter...if it's too high, tough luck.