I bought a cannabis farm

[Santafe2000]

I'll try to cut a long story short... Just purchased a new property, which it transpires was being used as a cannabis farm by the previous owner who now lives abroad. Yes, they lied on their vendor checklist. On moving in I noted that there was no supply and called the supplier to get the power back on. It turns out that the supply was cut by Western Power after the property was raided by Police back in August 2021. Now obviously I want my power back on, though it doesn't seem right that I'm footing the bill for the previous owners illegal activity. Just got a quote back from Western Power who want £2300 (Inc of VAT) for the re-connection. I'm excavating outside myself for the prep work to lay a cable (5metres) so they can make the pot (Seems ironic given the building history) connection under my path. WP are suggesting that a service alteration is needed to install a 3 phase supply, to future proof my property for green technologies. 'The cost of this forms the bulk of the fee's for reconnection, and yet I didn't ask for a service alteration, and neither did the site team from WP say this was necessary. Can anyone here tell me if this upgrade is mandatory? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Oh, and the disconnection wasn't picked up on searches because WP have their records wrong, my meter is listed as being at my next door neighbours and vice versa. They had records showing my neighbour being disconnected and me having a supply. Of course when I questioned them on this, I got. "Oh, those are not actually our records.

 

[Santafe2000]

Son recently found himself in your position, but thankfully without the added hassle of disconnected supply.

Ah, I see... so what were the 12inch cut outs for... ventilation?

 

[pirate]

"Yes, it's the old adage, the Blacksmiths horse is poorly shod!"

Cobblers' bairns...

 

[timhoward]

Thanks very much Gavin, interesting reading... As I said earlier, it was never gonna be picked up on searches because the DNO had their meter records mixed up., my meter was listed as belonging to my neighbour and their records showed she had been disconnected rather than me. The DNO won't take any responsibility for that though.

I'd still definitely be seeking advice from the conveyancing solicitor. At the end of the day you paid for a search and got the wrong answer. I can't see how the DNO can ultimately shirk responsibility for that, and by ultimately I mean when this escalates beyond phone calls to a letter from your solicitor and it reaches the big boss.
Instead of compensation, you can pursue a goodwill reconnection which they can practically do in their sleep. It should be very obvious from the circumstances that you are a different occupant / customer.
I'd stand your ground and be prepared to be not quite as nice.

 

[Avo Mk8]

I believe the data about meter serial numbers and the addresses they are at, and then the consumption figures, are all held centrally by the "Data Communications Company" About DCC - https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/about-dcc/ and then whoever needs info, like the service provider or the DNO, go there to get it.
So I suspect the DNO are telling the truth when they say it's not their fault!

At least that's how I understand it for all smart meters

 

[brianmoooore]

WP's default position is to try to get someone else to pay, whether the other person is liable or not.
Had a situation fairly recently where WPs service head had caught fire, nicely barbecuing a row of three sub main switch fuses directly above it.
Customer received a bill a couple of months later for damage to their metering equipment, caused by a fire in our switch fuses.
This wasn't entirely unexpected by me, given the run ins I've had with them in the past, and I had taken several pics before the damage was repaired, as well as preserving the discarded, charred backing board that both WP's equipment and the switch fuses had been mounted on.

 

[nicebutdim]

Ah, I see... so what were the 12inch cut outs for... ventilation?

I assume so. They'd been patched, but not as well as they could have been. All told, there's nothing major needing done to make good the previous butchery.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Doesn't the TA6 document cover the supply of electricity in section 13, this should have been given to you by the selling solicitor and it is their responsibility to make sure it is correct, If you have one what did the document say?

 

[littlespark]

I don’t know if this question has been asked before, or answered…. But did the OP view the property at all before buying?

Funny smell?

Lights not working?



You are not at fault, so you shouldn’t be expected to pay.

A reasonably good solicitor should be able to work it out.

 

[Mike Johnson]

A reasonably good solicitor should be able to work it out.

Or a reasonably good Chartered Surveyor.