Dear Marsha De Cordova,

 

I am writing on behalf of the residents of Battersea Exchange to bring to your attention a pressing issue that has profoundly impacted our community, comprising over 250 residents. We are currently grappling with exorbitant heating bills issued by our heating energy broker and property manager, Savills (UK) Ltd, and their billing agent, Welcome Energy, without any reasonable justification. This situation is exacerbating the strain of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and causing considerable distress among our residents.

 

In our case, between November 2023 and February 2024, our heating bills skyrocketed to unjustifiable amounts for an 800 sqft apartment. For instance, we were charged £319.78 for the period between 01/11/2023 - 05/12/2023 and a staggering £632.71 for the period between 06/12/2023 and 24/1/2024, even during the Christmas holidays when we were away. Subsequent investigation revealed that our meter (HIU) was indeed faulty, as confirmed by contractors dispatched by Welcome Energy, necessitating the installation of a new meter. However, despite acknowledging the fault, Welcome Energy refused to waive the costs incurred due to the faulty meter.

 

In our efforts to resolve this issue, we have reached out to various entities including our renting agent Chase Evans, Savills (UK) Ltd, Crown Gas and Power, as well as the Energy Ombudsman and Citizens Advice, all without success.

 

Our situation is not isolated. Upon contacting fellow residents in Battersea Exchange, we discovered numerous similar complaints of skyrocketing bills, residents leaving the building with withheld deposits, and unanswered requests for HIU inspections from Welcome Energy. This situation is exacerbating the financial strain on residents during an already challenging time.

 

Therefore, we urge your intervention and support in the following matters:

 

1) Inspection and Replacement of Faulty Meters: We request a thorough inspection of all meters (HIUs) in Battersea Exchange, with prompt replacement of any declared faulty units.

 

2) Waiver or Refund of Bills from Faulty Meters: Bills stemming from faulty meters must be waived or refunded promptly, especially for those already paid by residents.

 

3) Protection of Security Deposits: Any associated costs should not be deducted from the security deposits of tenants or owners.

 

4) Improved Communication and Consideration: We seek improved communication and greater consideration from Savills (UK) Ltd, as the property manager for Battersea Exchange buildings.

 

We kindly request the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss this matter and provide additional insights from our community. Your expertise and guidance are invaluable to us, as we currently lack avenues for effective resolution and feel the situation is spiraling out of control.

 

We eagerly await your response and assistance in addressing this urgent issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hassan Daher

60 Brogan House, 9 St. Joseph Street, SW8 4EU

hassanydaher@gmail.com

07526120808