Property management

Retikulan

Retikulan

Retikulan

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14 Jun 2007
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Hi all. Just thought I'd run this query past you all in order to find out if these charges are as excessive as I suspect they are. And to see if I can find out how much per month the good people of OCUK pay for their common area lighting for flats.
So a little background first. We live in a reasonably newish built flat, it's only around just over ten years old and there's 8 flats in our block. Now the property is managed by a property management company, or Factors, as it's known in Scotland, and we've just received our bill for the previous year. And what a whopper of a bill it is, despite being in credit around May 2026, we were hit with a bill of over £1400!

Now my query is regarding the electricity cost for the common area or stairwell if you will. Upon checking I discovered that for the period of January 2025, so just 1 month, the electricity cost in our block for just the common area was £352.21, February cost £317.68 then in March the charge was £318.67. These insane charges then continue month after month. Now I know electricity is somewhat expensive at present but come on, we dont even pay that kind of electricity bill per month for our flat and I'm working from home 5 days a week 8 hours a day, also running two gaming PCs, tumble dryers, showers, coffee and cappuccino makers and all other manner of electrical gear!

Can anyone else who lives in a flat confirm what their electricity charges are for their common area or stairwell? Just asking so I can get a rough comparison of what other folk are paying.
 
My flat is £100-£120 a month for communal electric, split 9 ways - covers stairwell lights, external lights in the car park, plus sockets (for cleaners).

I’m assuming there’s no lift if there’s only 8 flats, so seems a tad over the top.
 
Nope, no lift. The only thing that probably runs from communal electricity in stairwell would be the secured door entry system. Just worked out the communal area electricity charges for the year 2025, it's roughly around £3550 :mad:
 
Retikulan said:
Nope, no lift. The only thing that probably runs from communal electricity in stairwell would be the secured door entry system. Just worked out the communal area electricity charges for the year 2025, it's roughly around £3550 :mad:
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FOI request for the annual/monthly kWh consumption and the current electricity rates and standing charges? £3550 for a block of 8 flats with no lift seems wild!
 
I don't think a lift would even use that much power! Sounds to me like they're trying to pull your pants down.

You could probably work out an approximate cost, how many lights are in the communal areas? Do you also have any external floodlights - these would typically be much higher wattage and left on all night. How often are the hallways/stairwells vacuumed, and how long does a typical clean take. Add in some good measure for things like door control systems, and fire alarms, but I'd be surprised if you get anywhere near your quoted figures.
 
Are they heated? The energy costs could easily be that if they have several electric radiators running 1.5kwh

My small 1000sqft office had an energy bill of £450 in jan from two electric radiators and a fan heater running.
 
I assume this would come under a commercial energy contract as well so no price cap and no incentive for them to go looking for a better tariff if they're just passing the cost on
 
We've a total of 8 lights in the communal area, so 2 per floor. Hallway is vacuumed once per month and takes around 20 to 30 mins tops. No fire alarms or heating in the communal area at all. There are external floodlights in the car park but they've never worked a day since we've lived here. I just cannot fathom how it costs around £350 per month!!
 
aaronyuri said:
FOI request for the annual/monthly kWh consumption and the current electricity rates and standing charges? £3550 for a block of 8 flats with no lift seems wild!
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Excellent advice. Who's name is on the contract with the energy supplier? Being a new property that circuit might have it's own smart meter that can be corroborated with the bill. I suspect someone's creaming off the top.

I'd team up with your neighbours and refuse payment (not legal advice btw!) until the information is forthcoming. However you might find one of your neighbours has wired their weed farm to communal lighting circuit :cry:.
 
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