Smart Meters: What renters need to know
Energy explained
Smart meters turn rented homes into smarter homes - giving you the power to manage your energy use.
If you rent and have questions about getting a smart meter installed, we’ve got you covered.
What are the facts?
Do you need landlord permission for a smart meter?
If the energy bills are in your name, you can choose whether to get a smart meter.
We’d recommend letting your landlord know first, however, so they’re aware that changes are being made to the meter setup. Smart Energy GB has provided a useful email template and letter to get this going.
If the energy bill is in your landlord's name, it's their decision, but you can still ask. According to Smart Energy GB, 7 in 10 private landlords would agree to get a smart meter installed.
What if the landlord has added something into the tenancy agreement about getting a smart meter?
If your lease says you need your landlord’s permission to get a smart meter, Ofgem, the energy regulator, says they shouldn’t unreasonably prevent it.
Can you get a smart meter if you’re on prepay?
Yes, upgrading to a smart meter is an excellent option for customers on prepay.
With Smart Pay As You Go (SPAYG), you have even more control over your energy usage and can top up from anywhere - in your Octopus account, through our app, or at a PayPoint store - whatever’s best for you.
Can you get a smart meter in a block of flats?
Most homes are eligible for a smart meter, but some setups may need a quick look from us. Some blocks of flats may have a ‘crowded meter room or cupboard’, meaning the meters are installed very close to each other.
With little space, smart meter installations can be more challenging to complete. Additionally, if there is not enough smart signal, we may not be able to install a smart meter ‘booster’ known as an Alt-Han range-extending device.
Take a look here at what Alt-Han are doing to tackle this issue!
Crowded meter rooms can also make it hard to know which meter is yours (if it’s not clearly labelled).
If you are in a block of flats and want a smart meter, it’s worth getting in touch with a photo handy so that we can review your setup.
What are the benefits?
Energy Efficiency
Smart meters help you manage your energy use in real time.
Use the Octopus Energy app to monitor your energy usage and single out those energy-hogging devices.
Access to rewards
Changing your energy habits can save you some serious dough.
Access loads of perks by taking part in our green energy-saving incentives!
Smart tariffs
Unlock money-saving smart tariffs.
Get cheaper rates during greener and less expensive times of day, and connect your smart home tech.
Smart meters send us readings automatically, so you don’t have to! This means accurate bills for you and a greener, more flexible grid for us all.
Don’t have your hands on a cost-cutting smart meter yet? You can register your interest below for one, and we’ll let you know when we’re installing in your area.
FAQs
What happens if the landlord says we can’t have a smart meter, but the energy bills are in my name?
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Ofgem has said that if the bills are in your name, then your landlord cannot unreasonably prevent you from getting a smart meter.
What happens when I move out of my rented home?
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If you leave your rented property, your smart meter will remain in place and continue to function for the new tenants. You will be billed up to the last day of your tenancy and receive a final bill.
You will also leave your In-Home Display (or Octopus’s Home Mini) for the next tenants, as they will be linked to the meter(s) it was installed with. Please do not take them with you as they will not function at your new home or with your new meter(s).
Published on 5th September 2025 by:
Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!
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