Could a landlord prevent a smart meter installation if mentioned in the contract?

anon_ymous

So 

I saw some loony people talking about how smart meters are the devil, 5g is going to kill you etc..

Then there was a landlord who said they wouldn't allow their tenants to get it by putting a clause in. Ofgem however say the landlord can't unreasonably prevent tenants from doing that, so surely their clause would be unenforceable? I can't think of any legitimate non conspiracy theory reasons for saying that tenants aren't allowed to have a smart meter anyway tbh. I'm pretty sure conspiracy theory nonsense is definitely unreasonable too

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-smart-meter

Would a landlord then have any leg to stand on if their tenant did such a thing? Especially as by simply having a smart meter, you open yourself up to lots of different smart tariffs and the landlord / agency is effectively stopping you from choosing your own tariff?

powergen_insider

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

anon_ymous

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

powergen_insider

waqasahmed said:

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

Tell the landlord that the energy company says you need a new one?  Difficult for the LL to check and the supplier isn't likely to complain about help hitting their targets.

Keep_pedalling

powergen_insider said:

waqasahmed said:

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

Tell the landlord that the energy company says you need a new one?  Difficult for the LL to check and the supplier isn't likely to complain about help hitting their targets.

And don’t tell them until it has been done, in fact I would not tell them at all.

la531983

Keep_pedalling said:

powergen_insider said:

waqasahmed said:

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

Tell the landlord that the energy company says you need a new one?  Difficult for the LL to check and the supplier isn't likely to complain about help hitting their targets.

And don’t tell them until it has been done, in fact I would not tell them at all.

And a deposit can't be held back if he finds out once you have gone. 

ProDave

I don't want one personally, I don't want to eventually be forced onto a time of day tariff that charges a ridiculous amount to use my oven at dinner time etc.

I I am saying no whenever anyone says I need to have one.  They are being miss sold on the pretence that they somehow benefit the customer and your bills will go down.  They have so far got away with that ruse, by the small print in the advert that you could save money if you keep looking at the In home display and realise something is costing you a lot and deciding not to use that something.  BUT the In Home Display is NOT the "smart meter"  It would be possible to have such a device for a dumb meter and make the same choices.  So by pretending a smart meter will save you money, we will eventually be lumbered with a device that will charge you more just when you want to use it the most.  Nothing to do with any 5G scare mongering nonsense, we are just being buttered up for yet higher bills.

If a landlord is letting his former family home, and thinks one day he might want to move back to that home, I would say it is perfectly reasonable to say he does not want to be lumbered with such a device that is being miss sold to the public under false pretences.

chanz4

As the landlord does not actually own the meter they cant prevent

powergen_insider

ProDave said:

I don't want one personally, I don't want to eventually be forced onto a time of day tariff that charges a ridiculous amount to use my oven at dinner time etc.

No sweat, you'll just be paying the "ridiculous amount" 24/7.  But you can feel smug about it if you like.

Plus the supplier can change their meter anyway, backed by legislation.  It's not yours.

chanz4

la531983 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

powergen_insider said:

waqasahmed said:

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

Tell the landlord that the energy company says you need a new one?  Difficult for the LL to check and the supplier isn't likely to complain about help hitting their targets.

And don’t tell them until it has been done, in fact I would not tell them at all.

And a deposit can't be held back if he finds out once you have gone. 

la531983 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

powergen_insider said:

waqasahmed said:

powergen_insider said:

An owner-occupier can't really refuse under most circumstances so I can't see the landlord being able to.

Sure but that's if the energy company says you must get a new one because your old one is faulty / too old or whatever

I'm talking about tenants asking for a smart meter themselves and then getting it. Surely the landlord still has no leg to stand on? 

Tell the landlord that the energy company says you need a new one?  Difficult for the LL to check and the supplier isn't likely to complain about help hitting their targets.

And don’t tell them until it has been done, in fact I would not tell them at all.

And a deposit can't be held back if he finds out once you have gone. 

wouldnt stand up with a tenancy deposit claim, the landlord doesnt own the meter

MultiFuelBurner

powergen_insider said:

ProDave said:

I don't want one personally, I don't want to eventually be forced onto a time of day tariff that charges a ridiculous amount to use my oven at dinner time etc.

No sweat, you'll just be paying the "ridiculous amount" 24/7.  But you can feel smug about it if you like.

Plus the supplier can change their meter anyway, backed by legislation.  It's not yours.

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