Page last updated on 16th March 2026
Smart meters for landlords
Looking to save energy in your rental properties? Smart meters can help your tenant better understand their energy use at home. Learn more about the benefits below!
What is a smart meter?
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters, currently being installed in homes and small businesses across Great Britain at no extra cost to consumers. They are replacing traditional meters, including prepay key meters, and work by recording energy use just like a standard meter. However, unlike traditional meters, smart meters automatically send readings to the energy supplier at regular intervals, ensuring bills are accurate without the need for manual readings.
Smart meters for landlords: What are the benefits?
I’m a landlord, should I get a smart meter for my rental property?
Whether you manage the energy bills or your tenants manage their own energy bills, there are many reasons to consider getting a smart meter for your rental property.
Help prevent disputes
Smart meters send automatic meter readings, which means accurate bills both during and at the end of tenancy, preventing disputes. If you manage the bills, the smart gas and electric meters for landlords can also help you stay on top of expenses and the energy bills at the property.
Help between tenancies
Smart meters can help you during any void periods. As a landlord, meter readings being regularly shared means you’re being billed accurately, if you manage the bills. This means you can keep a better eye on energy consumption to reduce waste in empty properties. What’s more, smart meters work in credit and prepay modes, so you don't have to switch meters between tenancies.
You shouldn't stop them without reason
Ofgem says you shouldn’t stop your tenant from installing a smart meter without reason. If you’d rather your tenants not install a smart meter, you have the option to manage the energy bill payment yourself and include it in monthly rental charges.
Smart meter, landlords, and energy consumption – all your FAQs answered
Like landlords, tenants may wonder, 'do I need landlord permission for smart meter installations?'
It all depends on who is paying the energy bill at the rental property. So, if your tenant pays the energy bills, and the energy bill is in their name, it's their choice to get one installed. But it is recommended that they let you know before they make the change.
This recommendation comes from Ofgem, the energy regulator. Ofgem says that if your tenancy agreement says your tenant needs your permission, you shouldn't unreasonably prevent the change. A landlord refusing smart meter installations in rental properties could lead to both the landlord and the tenants missing out on smart meter benefits.
Smart meters offer greater visibility of energy use, more accurate billing, and can help tenants manage their energy consumption more effectively. For landlords, this can mean fewer billing disputes and a more energy-efficient property. Ultimately, smart meters can support better energy habits for individuals and contribute to a more flexible, resilient energy system for Great Britain.
If you’d like to install a smart meter but your tenants aren’t keen, you have the option to manage the energy bill payment yourself and include it in monthly rental charges. This would allow you to make the change, but you would need to explore this change to the rental contract in more detail yourself.
It’s always a good idea for you to talk to your tenants about any changes you’d like to make to the property. Your tenant might not be aware of the advantages of having a smart meter – a quick conversation could maybe help change their mind.
How much will the smart meter cost to install?
Much like traditional energy meters, the smart meter won’t cost anything extra to install as the cost has been covered through everyone’s bills – you just need to ask your supplier to see if your home is suitable. Find out more about the installation process.
Whose responsibility is it to book the smart meter installation?
It’s actually up to the person who pays the energy bills for the property to organise smart meter installation with their energy supplier. But our research shows there’s some confusion: 40% of landlords and 38% of letting agents believe it is the landlord’s responsibility to install a meter, whereas 39% of landlords and 51% of letting agents believe it is the renter’s responsibility**. Ultimately, whoever pays the energy bills organises the smart meter installation.
Smart meters in blocks of flats – is it possible to have one fitted?
Yes, many homes can upgrade to a smart meter right now - but where you live, the type of home you live in, and the age and type of your existing meter may mean that your energy supplier will take a little longer to get installed. If the energy bill is in your name, contact your supplier to find out if a smart meter is suitable for your property. Remember to make sure your tenants are aware of potential changes to the property.
I’m worried about how information will be used. Are there any issues with security?
The in-home display is paired with the smart meter by the installer, so it only shows information from that particular smart meter.
Personal information, such as names, addresses and bank details, is not stored on smart meter. The meter simply records gas or electricity usage in the same way as your current meter does. The meter readings can only be shared with energy suppliers, and they cannot share this without the permission of the energy bill payer.
For more information on how smart meters manage and share data and information, visit our page about smart meter data and privacy.
Advantages of having a smart meter include an ‘in-home display’?
All in-home displays are designed to be simple and easy to use, regardless of which model you receive. While they all provide the same essential information, such as energy usage in pounds, pence, and kilowatt-hours (kWh), their appearance may vary depending on your energy supplier. Some displays may offer additional features, but all serve the same core purpose. You can ask your energy supplier which type of in-home display (IHD) they provide when booking your smart meter installation.
What happens when my tenants move out?
When your tenants move out, they should leave your IHD in the property, as it will be connected to that property’s smart meter – this means your new tenants can enjoy the benefits of having a smart meter, including near real-time energy use information, straight away.
What if my tenants switch supplier? Will a new meter need to be installed?
You don’t have to get a new smart meter when you switch energy supplier. If you have a SMETS2 meter installed, you will be able to switch energy suppliers without any interruption to your energy readings, bill payments or gas and electricity supply. Your supplier can advise which meter type they install. For more information, see our page about switching supplier with a smart meter.
There you have it, all the things you need to know about smart gas and electric meters for landlords, and the numerous benefits – from accurate billing to easier monitoring of energy use during void periods. And whether you or your tenant is paying the energy bill, installing smart meters can be a simple step towards more efficient, transparent, and fair energy management for both parties!
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* 1 Opinium Research for Smart Energy GB, private renters study Oct 2023
**‘The Behavioural Architects for Smart Energy GB, (March 2021), Landlord and letting agent report’.