Case study of a tenant's claim: Stealing electricity
"I live in a 2-bed semi-detached house I rent from my landlord who owns both of the joined houses.When I received my first two electricity accounts they seemed very high compared to what I was used to paying previously for an apartment of similar size and with no change in the number of people living with me. I asked an electrician to check this out and he determined that there were 2 circuits on my distribution board that were supplying electricity next door but going through my meter. To confirm this, he turned off those two circuits and sure as nuts, the neighbour was complaining and asking if my power was off too. What can I do about this and can I charge my neighbour for theft of the electricity I am paying for or can I claim from the owner."
Mc Naught and Co response:
No, it's not theft by the neighbour, it's incorrect electrical wiring by the original builder's or owner's electrician. An electrician needs to rewire to ensure the distribution board only distributes electricity to the house it serves. The owner should be liable to re-imburse you as tenant for the electricity consumed and incorrectly distributed from his board to the neighbour.The owner could in turn recover the cost from the neighbour who has been unjustly enriched by the incorrect wiring, by receiving electricity not billed to and paid for by him. It does not matter if the owner bought the semi-detached pair or was not personally at fault with the incorrect wiring. As owner he is responsible for the correct distribution of electricity through to your house. It also would not matter whether two different owners own the two houses.For more legal advice follow our Facebook page and/or group here:
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Or contact info@maclaw co.za maclaw.co.za0870210123 (national)