🔥 Heating Charges at Trellick: What’s Really Going On?
This year, many Trellick Tower tenants were shocked by sudden and unexplained increases in their heating and hot water charges, with some flats now paying over £80 per week. The Council says these charges are fair and based on actual energy use from last year. But our analysis suggests otherwise.
As your Residents’ Association, we’ve reviewed the system, received the Council’s explanation, and submitted a detailed letter requesting improvements. Here’s what we’ve found — and why it matters for every tenant.
🏢 What RBKC Says
In their official response on 17 June 2025, the Council explained that:
2025–26 charges are based on calendar year 2024 usage
They use two sets of energy prices: higher rates for high usage months of Jan–Mar 2024, and lower rates for Apr–Dec
These costs are divided evenly over 52 weeks, added to your rent
The meter readings are remote and automatic, and the Council does not make a profit
The quarterly letters in 2024 were for “information only”, not bills
They also said that in 2024–25, the Council subsidised heating costs by applying a cap. That subsidy has now ended.
🚨 What the Problem Is
Even with this explanation, there’s a major issue: tenants already paid for heating and hot water in 2024 through their rent. Now the Council is charging us again for the same period. This is retrospective double billing.
Imagine being told:
“Your rent last year included an estimate of your energy use. Now we’ve checked the actual usage and would like you to pay it again.”
That’s what’s happening. And the Council’s statement —
“We don’t make a profit from this” — misses the point entirely.
We are not asking for a discount or a subsidy. We are asking for:
An accurate bill
For this year’s usage
At this year’s rates
💬 “The Council Doesn’t Profit” — But That’s Not the Point
In their official response, the Council wrote:
“The Council cannot and does not profit from recharging.”
We accept that. But this misses the real issue.
We’re not saying the Council is making money from this — we’re saying that the charges are being applied unfairly and without transparency.
Here’s what happened:
In 2023/24, the Council capped heating charges to protect tenants from soaring energy prices
In 2024/25, most tenants paid what we now know was roughly the accurate amount
In 2025/26, the Council has removed the cap and used 2024 consumption data to set a new, higher charge
Tenants are now being asked to pay again for energy costs that were already included in previous years' heating and hot water charges. Notably, the high costs for the first quarter of 2024 are reflected in the fourth quarter of the 2023/2024 year. We only became aware of this when we received our last statement in April 2025, while our heating and hot water charges for the rent bill were calculated already in March!
This feels like a “catch-up charge” for the subsidy the Council gave in 2023/24, but it was never communicated to tenants at the time.
If we had been told, “You are being charged less now, and the difference will be recovered later,” people could have prepared. But that didn’t happen.
So while the Council may see this as balancing the books, tenants are being charged again for a year they thought was settled. That’s not transparency, and it’s not how fair billing works.
📝 What We’ve Asked the Council to Do
In our official letter dated 24 June 2025, we made 9 formal requests:
Stop retrospective charging and avoid billing tenants again for a year that’s already been paid for
Explain what happens when tenants move out or in, and whether there’s a “closing account” process
Give tenants access to their energy usage data (via online portal or in-home display)
Clarify the number and role of EDF meters per flat, and explain the fixed charges
Explain how charges were calculated for each flat and why there are major differences
Reissue 2024 quarterly energy statements to all tenants who didn’t keep them
Consider switching tenant billing to the financial year, for consistency with leaseholders
Explain why the council isn’t using a standard utility billing model, and whether a switch is possible
Explore a new, fairer billing system based on current usage, current prices, and yearly reconciliation
Our tone is constructive — we want to help solve this, not cause conflict
📉 Why the Differences in Charges Matter
Now that billing is usage-based, some variation is expected. But we’ve seen 2-bedroom flats where charges differ by £20/week — that’s over £1,000 a year.
The meters themselves are accurate, but that doesn’t mean the system is fair.
If a flat is hard to heat due to poor insulation, draughts, or faulty radiators, the tenant may end up paying far more just to keep warm. That’s not their fault — it’s a building defect, not an energy behaviour issue.
We plan to ask the Council at the upcoming meeting on the 10th of July to look into these extreme cases and to investigate whether additional support or repairs are needed to prevent this kind of silent overcharging.
🔄 The Bigger Picture: It’s Time for a Better System
The energy letters in 2024 said, clearly:
“This statement is for your information only.”
Yet now they are being used as the basis for this year’s rent. That’s not transparent, and many tenants were unprepared.
This year — with prices stabilised and most people not seeing a big spike — is the perfect time for RBKC to fix the system by:
✅ Billing people for what they use,
✅ At today’s prices,
✅ With end-of-year reconciliation,
✅ Like every other utility company does.
This would be fairer for residents, easier for Council staff, and less confusing for everyone.
📬 What Happens Now?
We’ve asked RBKC for a full response within 10 working days. Once we hear back, we’ll update all residents.
If you’re unsure about your charges or want help reviewing your 2024 energy letters, we’re here to help.
📧 Contact: info@trellick.uk, or call 07494053791 (Mary)
🧱 We’re Not Asking for Favour — Just Fairness
This isn’t about politics. It’s about fairness, clarity, and respect for people who are trying to budget in difficult times. We’ll continue working for a system that makes sense for you and the building as a whole.
Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to this investigation.
