Page last updated on 4th November 2026
Smart meters and rented property: Can I get a smart meter if I rent?
While smart meters, rental property and landlords sound like a complicated combination, the answer to your question is more straightforward than you think. There are lots of benefits to getting a smart meter in a rented property, even if you're on prepay!
Smart meters in rental property: benefits of smart meters for renters
There are lots of benefits to having smart meters in rental properties. First, when you pay energy bills, you may be searching for ways to make the process easier to manage, and a smart meter does that by sending automatic meter readings to your energy supplier. Now, you no longer need to worry about manual readings, and with a smart meter's in-home display, you can see your energy use in near real-time.
Below are more examples of how having a smart meter could help.
Be more energy efficient
With the in-home display, a smart meter could help you to use energy more efficiently and identify places where you're wasting energy.
Get more control
Requesting a smart meter is one simple step you can take as a renter to feel more in control of your space and your energy bills.
Access to energy reward schemes
Smart meters allow renters to access energy reward schemes which encourage and reward customers for using energy at different times of the day. Check your energy supplier's app or website to see which schemes they are running.
Sharing a home? Smart meters can help everyone keep track
Living in a house-share can mean sharing everything from the kitchen and bathroom to household bills. And while disagreements are sometimes inevitable, money and bills can be a particular source of tension.
32% of people who have lived in house-shares said the disagreements they would take most seriously are about money and bills, even more so than arguments over hygiene (25%) or cleaning (20%)**.
When it comes to energy bills, 91% of people who have lived in house-shares said being able to track their household energy use would help reduce disagreements about energy bills**.
How can a smart meter help in a shared home?
Keep track as a household
The accompanying in-home display shows how much energy your household is using.
See what your energy use costs
See what your household's energy use is costing, helping you keep track no matter how many people are living under one roof.
Automatic meter readings
Smart meters measure household energy use and send readings automatically to your energy supplier.
Watch Fern Brady react to some of the most ridiculous housemate disagreements.
“I know from experience that living in flat-shares isn’t always simple… Arguments about money and bills can really get under people’s skin, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By getting a smart meter installed, renters can get a bit more control over their home’s energy use.”
Comedian Fern Brady, who has lived in more than 20 rented homes.
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My name is Nicola, I live in South West London with my five-year-old daughter in a two-bedroom flat.
I got my smart meter installed because I was worried that my energy bills were really high. Speaking to friends, they said there's weren’t as high and they live in bigger properties than me. So, spoke to my energy provider and they suggested getting a smart meter.
I’ve definitely changed the way I use my energy since I've had my smart meter installed. It allows me, yeah, just to budget more I can see sort of what I've spent per day, so I can sort of know if I've got rein it in a little bit more. Because my smart meter will change colour, so it will go red when I'm using a lot of electricity or gas and green when it's minimal.
Being a single parent and having my smart meter really allows me to watch what I'm spending, and therefore, I don't get that shock bill at the end of the month. I’d definitely recommend getting a smart meter to friends and family. It really, really helped me, and I think it would help other people as well.
Smart meters in rented property: Nicola’s story
See how Nicola's behaviour around energy use and setting up renting bills has changed since getting a smart meter for her rented property.
Smart meters aren't just helpful for people living in house-shares. Renters in different living situations can use their in-home display to keep track of their household energy use.
FAQs and energy saving tips for renters on getting smart meters in rented property
Can I get a smart meter if I'm on prepay?
Yes! Renters who prepay for their energy can get a smart meter.
There are lots of benefits with smart prepay compared to traditional prepayment, or key, meters. If you rent and prepay for your energy, having a smart meter means:
- You can top up online, on the go or at home
- Government or energy supplier support can be added to the meter automatically, without needing a voucher through the post
Do you need landlord permission for a smart meter?
If your energy bill is in your name, it's your choice to have a smart meter installed. If your lease says that you need your landlord’s permission to change the meter, Ofgem, the energy regulator, says they shouldn’t unreasonably prevent this.
While it is your choice to get a smart meter in your rental properties, it is recommended that you let your landlord know before you make the change.
To help make the process easier, there are some handy templates below that you can use to notify your landlord of your plans to get a smart meter.
My landlord pays the energy bills; can I still get a smart meter in a rented property?
If your landlord pays the energy bills for your home, it’s their decision on whether or not to install a smart meter. It is still worth asking! In our research in 2022, we found that 72% of landlords would agree to get a smart meter installed, and a quarter had installed one themselves in a rental property*.
Can you get a smart meter in a rented house or in blocks of flats?
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 yours to you.
Contact your supplier to find out if a smart meter is suitable.
What happens when I move out of my rented home?
After you move out, you leave your IHD in the property, as it will be connected to that property’s smart meter – you can always request that your supplier install a smart meter in your next property if there isn’t one installed there.
What are some other changes I can make to save energy in my rented home?
Having a smart meter can help you spot places where you could make low or no-cost changes to your home to save energy, and you can use it to keep track of the difference it makes to your bills.
Some of these changes are:
- Using draught excluders on windows and doors to keep the warmth in
- Fitting reflectors behind radiators on external walls
- Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by just one degree can help lower your energy bills without sacrificing comfort
The Energy Saving Trust has a handy guide for renters, and we have many energy-saving tips for renters available online that could help in the management of your energy use!
Request your smart meter
84% of renters who have had a smart meter in their shared house say it was helpful for monitoring their household energy costs**.
If you haven’t already got a smart meter, you can request one from your energy supplier below:
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*1Opinium Research for Smart Energy GB, private renters study Oct 2022
**Research was carried out by OnePoll for Smart Energy GB and surveyed 2,000 GB adults who have lived in rented accommodation in the last 10 years with someone who isn’t a family member, between 29th September – 15th October 2026.