The situation:
1. My business leases office space on monthly lease.
2. Before moving in, asked and was advised power "around $20 per month".
3. After moving in, asked again 2 or 3 times what power costs and was told "not much".
4. Received 1st power invoice, no supporting documentation
5. Received 2nd power invoice, with 1 page from power account (not front page)
6. Per unit charge looks far too high - phone around and get quotes (based on meter ICP) for a lot less.
7. Ask for copy of full power account and are refused.
8. Contact energy supplier and find out - with discounts - the actual rate charged to landlord will be a lot less. Put 2 and 2 together.
Lease agreement states -
"In addition to the rent the tenant shall pay the outgoings specified in the first schedule [power is specified here] and where any outgoing is not separately assessed in respect of the premises the tenant shall pay a proportion thereof as specified in the first schedule or if no proportion is specified than a fair proportion".
At this stage I am not arguing the proportionment but that the rate is well above market price, likely significantly more than landlord is actually paying and landlord has provided insufficient documentation to support their claim.
What to do?
1. My business leases office space on monthly lease.
2. Before moving in, asked and was advised power "around $20 per month".
3. After moving in, asked again 2 or 3 times what power costs and was told "not much".
4. Received 1st power invoice, no supporting documentation
5. Received 2nd power invoice, with 1 page from power account (not front page)
6. Per unit charge looks far too high - phone around and get quotes (based on meter ICP) for a lot less.
7. Ask for copy of full power account and are refused.
8. Contact energy supplier and find out - with discounts - the actual rate charged to landlord will be a lot less. Put 2 and 2 together.
Lease agreement states -
"In addition to the rent the tenant shall pay the outgoings specified in the first schedule [power is specified here] and where any outgoing is not separately assessed in respect of the premises the tenant shall pay a proportion thereof as specified in the first schedule or if no proportion is specified than a fair proportion".
At this stage I am not arguing the proportionment but that the rate is well above market price, likely significantly more than landlord is actually paying and landlord has provided insufficient documentation to support their claim.
What to do?
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