Concluded

daekara

Concluded 

Hoenir

Be the LL's. 

Veteransaver

It would be the landlords problem, but smart meters are usually smaller than old style mechanical meters. So unless you have an older non smart digital meter (which are fairly compact) I can't see how space would be an issue

wrf12345

might be someone has built a cupboard around the old meter, one house I bought all you could see of the meters were the display numericals through a couple of slots, actually making it impossible to turn the gas off but easy enough to remedy with a pry-bar and bit of violence.

Swipe

It's your landlord's problem, not yours. Let the agency deal with it.

Mark_d

Such a physical change to the property is a matter for the landlord.  I would put the energy company in touch with your landlord (or their agent).  Other than facilitating the agreed works agreed by the landlord, I would keep out of matters that are not my responsibility.

If you arrange for any engineers to make any changes to the property, which are not agreed by the landlord, then the landlord can hold you responsible.

Scot_39

The problem is you need the 2 electronic blocks - similar to the ones to the right in the photo - a new meter and the comms hub for smart meter communication - the module labelled LL - and the actual meter below it.

The black box - at a guess a 2nd earth cabling henley block above and the other flat meter just below and to the left - means they cannot fit as it is.

Ultimately down to the supplier meter fitter and the landlord. The landlord needs to provide a suitable location for the meter fitter to fit it - with space and of course the mounting board.

You could try to jiggle around - but in reality - all 4 of those meters are likely to be made smart in near future.

[Not an expert - or even an electrician or meter fitter - there are some who frequent the forum - but given space -  it could be a simple question of landlord having a new meter mounting back board (meter FR (fire resistant) chipboard - similar to the 2 the current kit meters mounted on ) - above the exiting isolators ? - and the meter fitter fitting new longer or extend existing input / output meter tails to run to it. Get the LL to talk to a local electrician to prepare the way for the next meter fitter visit.  Chances are you wont be the only tenant being pushed towards smart metering.]

Just a word of caution

The photos of the 4 meters and wiring to isolators isn't 100% clear - but there are scribbled numbers on at least 3 of the 4 meters - and these don't appear to align with the pencilled ? numbers on the isolator switches next to the NH labels - which to me looks like 1 top left then 4 2 3 in the lower row L to R?.

taking meters L to R

meter "flat 3" feeds the one with the 1 next to the model number 

meter 4 feeds 4

meter ? I would have guessed also 3 rather than 1 (lower) - feeds 2

 

the ringed your meter

scribbled 2 ? - appears to feed isolator penciled 3

Hopefully it's just a scribble error - and everything is wired correctly.

But I am maybe more paranoid than some - so are you 100% sure thats actually your meter.  

Have you ever done a meter sanity check ?  

Theres a few posts here giving examples of how to do it - if you search - ( e.g. varying electrical load and checking imp lamp on meter flash rate for instance)

gm0

From the picture it looks like the current width is the full width on this wall. 

If there are as many dwellings as meters i.e. 4 + LL supply = 5 meters - currently occupied or not

One of 2 possible things or both of these needs to happen - at some point.  Maybe now.  Maybe not.

DNO fuses - the black bits with 60A on them - need to move down.  This would be a request to the DNO to do that.  And they would charge as they do for that to visit and muck about with it.  One of the few things they are allowed to charge for as projects.  Elective changes to existing supplies and bringing in new supplies.  Mine quoted £1000 approx to move one single phase domestic supply fuse a few cms down for similar smart meter height reasons. I found another way to do it.  Smaller things refitted and moved above. There was a charge to come and quote for it in more detail (site survey).  In contrast if it's not working / on fire / frayed cable / suspected earthing issue - all are free calllouts by DNO from standing charges for network.  But not this.  It's working as is.

Second the fused isolators x 4 - the boxes with switches at the top - need to move up.  This is house wiring. 
Owners.  Not DNO. Not supplier. So a normal electrician hired to do it.

Hired in by the appropriate party to do each one.  Or by agreement - to do all of them.
Job of the various leaseholders (your landlord and any others and owner occupiers to sort that out between themselves and perhaps the building freeholder as well to do it in concert or as some kind of bizarre step by step jigsaw.

The DNO owns the black fuses.  The supplier(s) may be different for each are responsible for effectively own the meter (They don't but let's not get into that).  They are responsible for what happens. The freeholder or leasehold "owner" owns the tails from meter to isolator and on to the consumer unit or wiring split in each flat (where any trips and individual wiring to lights/sockets/cookers are). 

The flat leases and some local context/history - will determine which bits are communal and which per flat.

There is a building network operator concept for communal wiring = freeholder as owner
And individual wiring for specific to flats bits also happens = each leaseholder as owner
The fused isolators on the picture *may* be the boundary.  Or the CU's in the flats.  I really don't know what applies here.  You likely need all these actors to get sorted out.

But whoever owns what - you basically need to get to two rows of meters one above the other 3 and 2 is better for horizontal space than 4 and 1.  With room for meters with a comms unit fitted above each one.
A bit more height than the double height one on the right (LL).  
With all the wiring adjusted to suit the new arrangement.

More room requires the moves suggested.

Can you force it ?

The life expiry of meters when it is actually "real" i.e well past end of life and tolerance will eventually push the supplier to push this issue with the relevant owner(s).  About as well as energy companies do anything else.

Ahead of that the programme to roll out smart meters doesn't have the same force - although they will be offering/marketing it and using "life" and tariff access as an argument.  Those don't look like particularly ancient meters.  Certifications vary from 10 to 25+ years. You can look them up online by meter type. And there may be a sticker which can inform if yours EOL to help force things along. 

Basically neighbours, your LL and them in concert with freeholder and fellow leaseholders cannot be *forced* to do the whole job on your particular timetable - just so you can get smart meter only tariffs now.  Not a thing. 
You can say pretty please to your landlord to go and step into this mess and sort it.  Or for them to press the freeholder to do so.

Additionally - if you need to touch anything that isolates other people's supplies then your hired electrician who came for the day will not want to do that without pre-agreed access to those flats - at the time of work affecting them. 
Yes powercuts happen and the legals for that are permissive so this may seem a bit mad. 
But no trade doing a cheap job wants liabilities about knocking out such a supply - health equipment/vulnerable customer/heat/freezers etc. And finishing and signing off without checking it is restored successfully is a no no.  And that no consumer unit "trip" went during the experience. You likely have trips at the end of the cables that go from the boxes at the top - in each flat.  So the problem is real.  A liability and regs issue for the electrician. 
So they come.  They look.  Suck teeth.  Then don't do it (without the access) if they need to isolate anything that isn't your specific wiring and flat. And then they charge you for coming out to not do it in the end.  Let joy be unconfined.

This is not pretty - getting it understood and negotiated between neighbour leaseholders and the building owner.  And done in as few steps as possible by a sparky.  And suppliers.  Is a journey.

It's a bit like one of those fewest moves slide the puzzle pieces inside a flat frame toys.

Good luck.  If you don't give up in disgust after one email to the landlord.

Swipe

Sounds like a nightmare. You need to get it in writing that the landlord will pay any meter relocation costs before you agree to anything.

daekara

Now my brain hurts, after all that I think moving is my best option lol, the agency has a propertyfile website, I've put it in writing there under maintenance, right now I can only wait for a response, I'm also stuck until my tenancy runs out in August, otherwise I get stung by a contract cancellation fee which could cost up to £300 if not more (I might as well just pay for the re-site) in that case.

Scot_39

Does moving a meter in the same cabinet really count as a meter relocation, so subject to the fee ?

[I've had 2 not by choice meter upgrades, twin rts to 5 port digital, inc new isolator switches to cu tails fitted, and then 4 port digital Smart with external restricted contactor - so those isolators needed moving and more new tails etc, all for free. But everything still on same backboard, so inches / feet not any distance.  All done for free by EOn.]


As I read the OPs post, change due to being told needs an EOL smart replacement by supplier, not requesting it for gain / tariff savings.

At least the £100+ isn't DNO type expensive mentioned above, but even so.  It's wrong should be expected to pay as a tennant.

But has the OP even discussed with their landlord - who may actually be willing to pay.

Rather than "moving only option"