Residents on an Islington estate say they are “stressed” and “fed up” after a dispute with the council over the installation of heating meters in most of their homes.

On January 23, people at Hathersage Court were left without heating and hot water in sub-zero temperatures for hours after pre-payment meters were turned on by mistake.

And, almost two months later, there has still not been a decision as to what kind of payment plan residents will use in the future.

People living at Hathersage Court have complained about the communication they have had from the council regarding the meters.

The chair and former chair of the estate's tenant and residents' association (TRA) say they felt misled over the installation of the meters, and were not properly informed they would be pre-payment until they were almost due to be turned on.

The pair, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s not only the idea that pre-payment is wrong. It’s that we all really felt like the council were misinforming us on purpose so that they could install as many meters as possible with very little resistance.”

One resident, who has lived on the estate for 12 years, claimed that she felt pressured to have the meter installed in her home by Islington Council.

She said: “I accepted the meter because they forced me – I didn’t want the hassle of arguing.

“Nobody [at Hathersage Court] is happy because it’s going to be expensive."

She added: “For me, it’s a double problem because I live on the top floor and it’s a very cold flat.

“I am already wearing two cardigans and a blanket and am coughing from a cold.

“If I accept the pre-payment system, I cannot imagine how much I am going to pay.”

Following a backlash amid fears that energy costs would rise on the estate, Islington Council told residents at Hathersage Court that the meters would not be used for the time being. 

Islington Council said that under a pre-pay meter system, people will pay no more per unit of heat than they would if they were billed on a monthly basis.

Meanwhile, residents were informed two weeks ago that the monthly fee they currently pay for heating costs was set to be increased.

Cllr Una O’Halloran, Islington Council’s executive member for homes and communities, said: “The Government is making all councils install heat meters in homes connected to communal heating systems that meet certain criteria. There are two options available – prepayment and monthly credit billing.

“We are listening to the concerns of residents at Hathersage Court about how they will pay for their heat via the meters. We have paused the implementation of the scheme while we discuss these options with them, so we can fully address any concerns.

“To be clear, all of the council’s communal heating systems are set up on a not-for-profit basis, and we have kept costs to a minimum to help our residents keep their bills down.

“We understand worries about costs going up and down based on usage, which is why we’ve ensured that residents can set up regular fixed payments, enabling them to spread costs over the year and build credit up on their meter ready for higher-consumption periods.

“While we told residents in Hathersage Court last summer that they would be moving to pay-as-you-go meters, the communications around this should have been clearer. We are sorry that some residents were not aware, and will improve our communications in future schemes.”