Landlord claims breach of contract because of SmartMeter

Comms69

silvercar wrote: »

In all the time I've been changing utility suppliers to keep on the cheapest deal, none of the comparison sites have identified a time of use tariff as a deal to consider.

Perhaps, but for some people, especially those with obscure working hours, they can save a lot of money. (especially since most jobs of that type don't pay well)

Slinky

Comms69 wrote: »

Well you committed the biggest sin of all. Never let out a property with an emotional attachment.


(that clause in the tenancy agreement is unenforceable)

I'm sure there are many bigger sins in this world.


It might or might not be enforceable but if it has the intended effect it will have done its job.

Comms69

Slinky wrote: »

I'm sure there are many bigger sins in this world.


It might or might not be enforceable but if it has the intended effect it will have done its job.

Well biggest sin when letting a property

Slinky

Comms69 wrote: »

Well biggest sin when letting a property

Couldn't be helped. Property we want to live in came up for sale before we are ready to move to it. It was buy and rent it out or risk not finding another like it when we are ready to move. We'd been looking for 2 years.

Have also rented out the property we currently live in as we had to move away for a while. It had been my home for several years prior and has been for longer since moving back in. I pulled on my big girl knickers, just got on with it and made it ours again when we moved back in.

scaredofdebt

I'm presuming your Tenancy Agreement doesn't preclude you from having your meter changed.

In which case you've done nothing wrong and caused your LL no financial loss. If he is so bothered about not having a Smart meter he can contact the energy supplier to get it removed if he wishes.

He hasn't got a leg to stand on when it comes to keeping your deposit.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/understand-smart-prepayment-and-other-energy-meters/smart-meters-your-rights

Smodlet

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

You've missed something - the landlord wasnt preventing her getting a cheaper tariff. She was still perfectly free to swop supplier - as that is something totally unconnected to what style the meter is.

silvercar wrote: »

In all the time I've been changing utility suppliers to keep on the cheapest deal, none of the comparison sites have identified a time of use tariff as a deal to consider.

To both of the above, the answer is "yet". Smart meter only tariffs are new now and may not become the norm (let's hope) until SMETS2 but they are already here and the only incentive is that they are cheaper than so-called dumb meter tariffs. I strongly suspect, once many more people have "smart" meters, they will cease to be so competitive.

For now I will stick to my good, old, dumb meter like a really sticky thing as I see no reason to allow such an invasion of privacy when there is absolutely nothing in it for me, whatever lying-@ss suppliers and their lying-@ss adverts say.

dannim12345

Probably should have checked with the LL but don’t see any real issue. the ‘uproar’ around smart meter recently seems to be down to them not working if you switch to supplier. So they are essential just a normal meter if you don’t / can’t use the smart function...

elenemc

It has been mentioned once already but you can't keep on installing a new smart meters every time you switch supplier, so in that respect having a dumb smart meter is worse than an original unconverted meter, which still holds the option to convert.

On average tenants stay for 2-3 years and subsequent tenants after the one who changed it will be deprived of the same option.

It is just something to bear in mind before deciding to go ahead with installing a smart meterI.

It isa shambles created by the government and exploited by suppliers which both LL and tenant are caught up in.

Tightfinger

I know this is an old thread, but being a Landlord of a property which the Tenants checked out of today, I have just read all 7 pages to discover that the OP never bothered to report back as promised, with the deposit Adjudicators ruling.

I have been put in the same position as the OP's Landlord, by my Tenants having decided to get a smart meter installed without bothering to mention it to me - even though our tenancy agreement clearly states that they have must not change the meters without my consent.

I am really p****d off for a few reasons:

1) The new meters are very difficult to read - the display on both meters is smaller and dimmer than the old ones. Also, the electric meter is near the ceiling and you now need to stand on a chair or similar to read it - the gas meter is just above ground level outside and you now need to kneel on the pavement to get low enough to read it.

2) You need to press buttons to get the readings and it is uncertain what information the display is showing you.

3) The Tenants managed to pack away and remove the 'In House Display', which is the only benefit I can see the new system offers.

4) Their energy provider, Eon will not even discuss it with me until the account paperwork is in my name, by which time the Tenants will have long gone.

I am dreading the extra hassle this will cause at each change of Tenants. Having been a Landlord for 20 years, I know it is highly likely the IHD will repeatedly get lost and how much do you expect it will cost to replace that?

I want the old units put back, but don't see how that can be instigated.

Hate smart meters.

Comms69

Tightfinger said:

I know this is an old thread, but being a Landlord of a property which the Tenants checked out of today, I have just read all 7 pages to discover that the OP never bothered to report back as promised, with the deposit Adjudicators ruling.

I have been put in the same position as the OP's Landlord, by my Tenants having decided to get a smart meter installed without bothering to mention it to me - even though our tenancy agreement clearly states that they have must not change the meters without my consent. - It can say they must wear a pink tutu every second wednesday - the terms are just as enforceable as each other

I am really p****d off for a few reasons:

1) The new meters are very difficult to read - the display on both meters is smaller and dimmer than the old ones. Also, the electric meter is near the ceiling and you now need to stand on a chair or similar to read it - the gas meter is just above ground level outside and you now need to kneel on the pavement to get low enough to read it. - You dont own the meters, so have suffered no loss

2) You need to press buttons to get the readings and it is uncertain what information the display is showing you. - Learn, it's pretty simple

3) The Tenants managed to pack away and remove the 'In House Display', which is the only benefit I can see the new system offers. - And?

4) Their energy provider, Eon will not even discuss it with me until the account paperwork is in my name, by which time the Tenants will have long gone. - There geographic location is irrelevant to your account with Eon

I am dreading the extra hassle this will cause at each change of Tenants. Having been a Landlord for 20 years, I know it is highly likely the IHD will repeatedly get lost and how much do you expect it will cost to replace that? - You arent obliged to replace it

I want the old units put back, but don't see how that can be instigated.

Hate smart meters.

Now have you got a question you want answering? It wasnt clear in your post