Moving in with friends for the first time is one of the most exciting parts about university for students. But amidst the parties and fun that university offers, energy theft in student housing could turn a new home into a ticking time-bomb. Danger could be lurking in your meter cupboard right now.
Understanding Energy Theft and Its Risks
Student housing safety is something that students often have little knowledge of. For many, this will be the first time they’ve managed bills and utilities, so understanding gas and electrical safety in rental properties, tenant rights and energy use can seem overwhelming.
A survey found that around 67% of 18-24-year-olds wouldn’t be sure of how to identify the signs of gas or electricity fraud. Rogue landlords exploit this lack of experience to carry out energy theft in student housing.
The survey, commissioned by Echo Managed Services and Grosvenor Services GroupEcho Managed Services and Grosvenor Services Group, also found that around 20% of 18–24-year-olds have encountered a “tell-tale sign” of meter tampering in the past, 28% of which said they noticed it in their rented property.
What is Energy Theft?
Energy theft is the illegal tampering of the electricity or gas meter, or supply, so that it doesn’t record the proper usage. Some energy thieves may bypass the meter completely, so it doesn’t record gas or electricity usage at all.
Energy theft in student housing can cause electric shocks and burns, gas leaks, fires, and even explosions that can rip through a building.
Innocent individuals are the ones whose lives are often most at risk – yourself, your housemates, neighbours, and any friends and family that come to visit. In high-rise tower blocks, many more lives could be at risk if student housing safety is lacking.
Rogue landlords can easily tamper with meters in the properties rented to students. Energy theft in student housing could even be committed by one of your housemates. Or by a previous tenant, who you unknowingly inherit a tampered meter from.
Signs Of Tampered Energy Meters
At Stay Energy Safe, we want to equip students with knowledge and understanding of student housing safety. Everyone needs to know about gas and electrical safety in rental properties, how to spot the tell-tale signs of meter tampering, and what to do if they spot them.
It’s best to look for these signs during the property viewing, or when the property inventory is taken, but if you are already in student housing, you can check now, so you can ensure your house is safe to live in.
Common Tactics Used By Rouge Landlords
You know the signs of tampered energy meters, but what sort of dodgy behaviour should you look out for?
If your landlord:
- Charges you a fixed rate for bills, no matter how much gas or electricity you use. This means you could be overpaying.
- Denies access to the gas and/or electricity meters. Landlord obligations around electricity and gas mean they should never refuse this. If they do, they may be trying to hide the signs we listed above.
If they do both, it’s very likely that they are tampering with or bypassing your gas and/or electricity meter.
If one of your housemates is responsible for managing the energy bills for the house, and they:
- Brag to other people about how low the bills are in your household.
- Won’t grant their flatmates access to the gas and / or electricity meter.
Then energy theft could be taking place.
There are other signs you can look out for around the house to help spot energy theft. These include:
- Sparks from multiple sockets and switches
- Electric shocks from multiple appliances
- Electric shocks from taps, the bath or shower
- Meters locked away
- The smell of gas around the meter
These could be tell-tale signs of energy theft in student housing.
Equally, if you are a landlord, you should be suspicious if tenants won’t give you access to the meters.
As a landlord or a tenant, if you spot any of these signs, it’s essential to report them immediately to Stay Energy Safe. Student housing safety is every student’s responsibility, to protect yourself and others.
Steps to Report Energy Theft Anonymously
Energy theft in student housing is a serious, potentially deadly crime that puts you, your housemates, neighbours and community in serious danger. It’s just not worth the risk.
If you are worried about getting in trouble with housemates or your landlord, remember that reporting is always 100% anonymous. We'll never ask who you are, never judge, or ask how you know about a crime. We’re just here to help you make a difference and keep your community safe. By reporting it, you could be saving lives – your own, your friends’, and your neighbours.
Do your part in student housing safety. If you spot any of the signs of energy theft, or suspect your landlord or a housemate, report it to Stay Energy Safe, by phone on 0800 023 2777 or online, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Speak up. Stay energy safe.