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We have a BTL flat to top up our pensions & have just been informed by our tenant, who has given notice, that they had a smart meter installed. Same supplier but they surcumbed to the invitations to have it done. Obviously new meter, and from what I understand, a smart meter that may be unique to the supplier. I would not have agreed to this as, at the moment, I believe they limit choice of supplier as there doesn't seem to be a common standard for smart meters. As there doesn't seem to be anything in the Tenancy Agreement or reason to withhold any part of the deposit do I just have to 'suck it up'?
What does the STF say?
smart meter that may be unique to the supplier
really, we've chanegd twice since we got one.
I think you have to suck it up.
smart meter that may be unique to the supplier
Some you need to get a new meter but not all.
Get annoyed, grumble then likely carry on as imagine it's really not all that bad.
Oh, maybe bum their dog.
We changed suppliers after having one, you just lose the smart element of it.
Depends what type it is - the newer ones are more universal to stop you being locked in with one supplier.
My electric company want me to fit a smart meter, but I'm not taking time off work to allow them to do it & have said they can fit it on a Saturday.
Whoever pays the bills can arrange installation, they don't need landlord's permission. AFAIK worst case is it just functions as a dumb meter if switching to a supplier that doesn't support it?
Talk about first world problems!
If they pay the bills it's their choice who they use and which supplier, they don't need you permission to try and save some cash.
As there doesn’t seem to be anything in the Tenancy Agreement or reason to withhold any part of the deposit do I just have to ‘suck it up’?
What does the STF say?
Aren't electricity meters owned by the company rather than the owner of the house? Personally I'd say you have to suck it up and to try to with hold part of the deposit would be a shitty thing to do. Even if the meter stops working as a "Smart Meter" for a different supplier it will still work as a "Dumb Meter" just like the one that got replaced so you're not actually any worse off. To be honest you come across a bit like landlords that I had who were annoyed when I transferred the telephone number to a new property. The fact that the number was assigned by BT to me as part of a contract didn't seem to interest them much.
I'd say sell the flat.
As Drac says it’s the tenants choice so it’s not that you suck it up it’s more that it is none of your business.
I would've thought any changes to electricity/gas/facilities stuff would have to be agreed by the owner of the property, surely!
But hey, I ain'ta landlord and STW consensus seems to be that you're a weirdo for even raising the issue, so whaddoIknow.
You should definitely murder them.
Display their corpses as a grisly warning to the next tenants.
I'd be more worried about the quality of the meter installation.
There's been a few instances of them causing problems.
Have they changed the type of electrons that drive it, will old ones not fit through the hole?
Don't be a knob, it will still work as a dumb meter and you can read it the old fashioned way.
"Investment Landlords" need to get over them selves and stop being cockwombles.
If you have taken offence to this then it applies to you!
We have a BTL flat to top up our pensions & have just been informed by our tenant, who has given notice, that they had a smart meter installed. Same supplier but they surcumbed to the invitations to have it done. Obviously new meter, and from what I understand, a smart meter that may be unique to the supplier.
My experience of a smart meter is that it really doesn't make any difference to anything much at all. If you / your tenant stay with the same supplier it simplifies billing and potentially helps to save money. If you swap to a non-compatible supplier, it just stops working as a smart meter. It doesn't lock you into using a particular supplier, it just means you no longer have a functioning smart meter.
In effect, it makes no difference to your choice of supplier. The only caveat is that if you want to be able to use the smart meter, you need a compatible supplier, but otherwise you can use whoever you want, you just won't have a smart meter.
We had a smart meter fitted by one supplier, changed suppliers, the smart meter no longer works as a smart meter, but we still get electricity just fine, we just have to take our own meter readings and upload them manually.
maybe bum their dog.
I read that as burn their dog and felt it was a bit extreme but I've zoomed in a bit now so carry on.
I'd be pleased I had tenants who seem to care about the building they were living in and tried to sort things out without constantly involving the landlord.
Dogbone (not a landlord).
Burn the flat, and also bum their dog, as suggested.
Bum their gerbil as well just to be sure and then nick their biscuits.
Definitely torch the flat with all their possessions in. After you’ve held them hostage for a 24 hour ‘Pulp Fiction’ style reign of terror to teach them the error of their ways.
We can take the dog bumming as read, obvs
Any chance you could bum TJ as well?.
then nick their biscuits.
This is getting out of hand.
As above, it's done now. Personally I wouldn't be too upset about this particular thing, but I would be a bit peeved that they'd messed with building/infrastructure stuff without thinking to check with you first. They're moving out though, so not much to be gained by making a fuss about it. Don't think you've got any grounds to withhold deposit - what is your actual loss?
At the very most, you could use it in discussions as something you're upset about, in the hope that they'll understand where you're coming from and be less combative about any other damages you're claiming deposit for. But if they really don't get why you might be upset or they don't care if you're upset or there's no other damage to discuss, then just forget about it.
Any chance you could bum TJ as well?
I read that as burn TJ and felt it was a bit extreme but I’ve zoomed in a bit now and am disappointed.
Have they changed the type of electrons that drive it, will old ones not fit through the hole?
Yes, they had to, so that electrons created purely by wind and solar can be distinguished from those generated by fossil and nukes, so that they only allow eco friendly electrons through for those people that pay for eco friendly power. Otherwise they'd have had to build a totally new national grid for them 😉
Folk who own property they don’t live in deserve all they get.
Oi!
Nobeer he might not be my type
I read that as burn TJ
Surely, we should hang the blessed TJ.
As there doesn’t seem to be anything in the Tenancy Agreement or reason to withhold any part of the deposit do I just have to ‘suck it up’?
What does the STF say?
I'm going to say you're being unreasonable. No damage has been done. Smart meter will work with any supplier (either as dumb meter or smart meter). You sound a like a fanny of a landlord I had when I was young and renting. Wanting total control over everything but also to be paid for the privilege.
but I would be a bit peeved that they’d messed with building/infrastructure stuff without thinking to check with you first.
But as mentioned they don’t have to check with the landlord it’s up to them as the bill payer (Kilo, landlord - not bumming or burning any dogs, puffins, etc)
Folk who own property they don’t live in deserve all they get.
Cool I get a monthly rent 🙂
Miserable moaning landlord in bemoaning tenants shokka.
The meter isn’t yours, it’s the energy suppliers.
Make sure you put the rent up on the next tenants, just because your so pissed off and need to take it out on people who rent.
Thatll calm you down princess.
🤷♂️🤣👎
As others have said, they don’t need your permission. Last flat that I rented was given a smart meter by the electricity company while I was there, didn’t cross my mind to tell the landlord.
If you don’t want this to happen, pay the electricity bill yourself.
U OK HON? XX
Footnote: you cannot withhold the deposit for this. The deposit is in a DPS scheme, right?
Do they still catch fire, these smart meters?? That would be my concern.
(My local shop almost burned down after they had one fitted: True fact)
(that's burned, not bummed)
Hand clap for perchypanther, although obviously Morrissey is now evil.
Wee in their shoes?
Looks like it's perfectly legal for them to do this but I don't blame you for being narked.
Most people change suppliers once a year so if the tennants want smart metres each time that's potentially a new box a year until meters get standardized. Seems reasonable to me that a landlord would be narked about having his walls drilled once a year by an unknown contractor, supervised by someone who doesn't care about the long term well being of the property.
As a tennant I think I'd inform the landlord and see if they wanted some kind of backing board put in to avoid drilling into the wall or just wanted to be be onsite to supervise.
Hurrah tenants who have paid the bills and been pro-active. Sorry but don’t come across all hissy as the tenants probably see themselves as people you your pension top up as a home. Everyone hates landlords and I accept that being one.
Many thanks for all your responses - particularly the humerous ones. Trust STF! I did express my dissatisfaction - and I really felt that was all I could do - but was more concerned about the cowboy stories you hear about the installations & the possibility of limiting suppliers. I'll just go and ride my bike now.......
Wee in their shoes?
If the meter is in the shoe cupboard that could be a bit dangerous.
Tough tittie, it's up to the tenant as they are paying for the energy.
Given the nature of the UK housing market and the bias towards BTL investors making £££ I have little sympathy generally.
I believe they limit choice of supplier as there doesn’t seem to be a common standard for smart meters
Incorrect - it will likely become "dumb" if switched but you then just submit readings, old-school, so you have lost only the IHD, which you didn't know you had anyway.
ALL PROPERTY IS THEFT! LANDLORD BOURGEOIS SCUM!