A campaign by the government-backed Smart Energy GB not-for-profit organisation is promoting the use of smart meters amongst private tenants who share.

It says a survey of private renters shows that with inflation pushing up household bills, 27 per cent of respondents say their main worry is their housemates using too much energy and being unable to afford the resulting bill.

Concerns about rising energy bills means that nearly half of young renters (46 per cent) are arguing more with their housemates since the cost of living crisis began. A quarter (25 per cent) of arguments are about energy waste and a third (33 per cent) are about bills in general.  

The same survey apparently shows that 41 per cent of young renters wish their housemates cared more about saving money.

A statement from the campaign claims that smart meters can help sharing tenants.

“The main advantage is that all smart meters come with an in-home display which shows you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, in near-real time” says the campaign.

“This is perfect for proving to your flatmates exactly how much energy they are using by leaving the lights on, one of the most common (27 per cent) annoyances that renters have with their housemates.

“… With a smart meter, bills are accurate every month, so you’ll know what to expect and you’ll only pay for what you use.”

It continues: ““Smart meters can also reduce the need for landlords to support tenants through the moving-in process and reduce disputes with things like final meter readings at the end of a lease, leading to lower costs relating to disputes. 

“It is the bill payer’s right to have a smart meter, and we hope that landlords responsible for the energy bill will consider having a smart meter installed or work with their tenants to get them installed by their supplier in their rental properties.”

And a part of the statement aimed specifically at tenants states: “It is a bill payer’s right to have a smart meter installed, if they pay for the gas or electricity in the rented property. 

“If the landlord pays the bills, the decision lies with them.

“Smart meters provide automatic billing and greater visibility of energy use through the in-home display. With a smart meter in prepay mode, it is possible to top up in a variety of ways from your own home and know when you are close to using your emergency credit.

“A smart meter installation takes as little as two hours and can be scheduled at a time to suit you. 

“Landlords do not need to be present for the installation, but it’s good to let them know a smart meter is being installed, just in case there is a clause in your tenancy agreement.

“If your tenancy agreement says you need your landlord’s permission to alter metering at your property, Ofgem the Energy Regulator, says that they should not unreasonably prevent it.”