Additional meter needed or will smart meters help ??

the_dooce · 23 May 2018 at 5:36PM

Hi.
I live in a 3 bed semi with an additional 2 bed flat attached. At the time the additional flat was built a family member/s was living in both the house and flat and so the gas and electric supply was kept on 1 meter. The flat is now empty and I am looking to let it.
Can anyone advise the costing for separating the meter or if getting smart meters would allow me enough information to seperate utility payments?
Ideally I'd like a responsibly inexpensive solution without digging up drive.
Many thanks

molerat · 23 May 2018 at 5:46PM

If you want proper separately billed supplies you are likely looking at £Ks. If you want sub meters which you can bill to then, depending on how the flat is connected to the main supplies, could be done for a few hundred. A smart meter would be of no use as it can't differentiate where the power is being used.

the_dooce · 23 May 2018 at 5:54PM

Thank you, I was coming to the same conclusion. I think a sub meter may be the way forward.
Any landlords around that can advise how often you take meter readings and bills for this ? Thank you

AndyPK · 23 May 2018 at 7:11PM

I wouldn't have thought a new electric meter would be expensive. The supply is there. And the advantage is it is nothing to do with you then. (part of it depends what was done when it was built. If there is a seperate fusebox/consumer unit it should be ok.

Are there two boilers or one ?

the_dooce · 23 May 2018 at 7:48PM

Thank you. Yes seperate boilers and fuse boxes in both properties

Owain_Moneysaver · 23 May 2018 at 9:27PM

You can get landlord's prepayment smart meters where the tenant does their own top-ups by phone or online. This saves you having to bill the tenant or sell cards.

EG https://www.landlordmetering.com/

NB
(1) some suppliers of landlord smart meters may require the property supply to be switched to their own energy provider
(2) any meter you use must be MID compliant and you are not allowed to charge more for electricity than it costs you

Cardew · 23 May 2018 at 9:30PM

I don't think electricity will be a problem, but gas might be.

If you become a landlord you will have to get an annual safety certificate. To run two boilers from the same meter is unusual and might contravene the latest regulations regarding gas pressure, isolation of supplies etc.

You might be better letting the flat with gas and electricity included, effectively as lodgers.

What about water supply, is that metered? If let as a flat it should have a separate supply and account.

JC_Derby · 23 May 2018 at 9:55PM

AndyPK wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought a new electric meter would be expensive. The supply is there. And the advantage is it is nothing to do with you then. (part of it depends what was done when it was built. If there is a seperate fusebox/consumer unit it should be ok.

Are there two boilers or one ?

you wont be able to get two suppliers meters on one single phase supply.

macman · 23 May 2018 at 10:43PM

I don't see any safety issue with running 2 boilers from a single meter, as long as the pressure is adequate, which might require an uprated supply pipe should the boiler be replaced.
Obviously, it should be possible to isolate the supplies independently if required.

AndyPK · 24 May 2018 at 12:22PM

JC_Derby wrote: »

you wont be able to get two suppliers meters on one single phase supply.

I've got 3 meters off a single phase supply.

As you have gas it should be low demand on elec

PennineAcute · 24 May 2018 at 1:10PM

If you go for the sub meter, then how will you deal with standing charge? Assuming that your tariff has a standing charge.

Additional meter needed or will smart meters help ??

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