Council installing smart meters in Council homes. Is this legal?

[applesorangesapples]

Received this today and think it's intrusive. No prior information has been received so far from the Council and this is completely out of the blue. Surely, it can't be legal to monitor people - for whatever reason - under the pretence it's to keep them safe. Does anyone here have personal experience of these smart meters and have they had a positive experience? I've never (touch wood) been burgled and therefore that can't be used as an excuse for installing the the tag. Do I have a right to refuse installation in my home? Or would that lead to Council stopping me from accessing other services?

Read the thread and all responses not just op. It isn't going on your meter.

That cant be right! never had a safety check? You should be getting your gas safety certificate renewed every year, and your electricity every 5 years

The smart tag is so that they can check that safety inspections are being carried out. It doesn't monitor you or your electricity usage in any way. Read the thread.

I understand what they say it’s for , I’m just not sure I believe them . The reasons given don’t add up in my opinion , which we are all entitled to .

What is it that doesn't add up about the reasons?

Are you a conspiracy theorist, or do you just have a general inability to understand the written word?

That is exactly what smart tags are for. Many councils use them. Why do you think the reasons don't add up?

Wow! Your on the defensive about these tags , you work for the council by any chance? . I’m not having one and we are not legally obliged . Simple !

Bloody hell! 😂

Working in hospitality and retail I've seen similar, it's basically a check in device.
We used to have barcodes on every appliance that needed to be safety checked and the person doing it would simply scan it to prove they had looked at the item, it was recorded correctly (sometimes fridge 1 and fridge 2 could be easy mixed up) and complete the checks.
I agree the wording could be better as some people are just paranoid and think the world is out to get them

Is it these?

www.westminster.gov.uk/smart-tags

It's a better system than just having a sticker on the consumer unit that someone scribbles on.

The Smart Tag is for your own safety as well as Councils records it will tell them when you Gas/Electric/Smoke Alarms have been checked I can see nothing wrong with that its a Council property so they have the right to set the rules of your tenancy.

Private renter - we never had inspections relating to the electrics but the law changed and now they have it. Plus ultimately whilst it’s your home, it’s the landlords house so I guess it’s reasonable to expect changes to improve the way they monitor things.

It wouldn't bother me, since they are monitoring themselves rather than the occupant.

What exactly is it you think these tags are for then?

@Lornao1 its a meter in your home. The meter however is not ‘yours’, the house belongs to the council who have a duty of care to ensure they are meeting current laws and are keeping you safe.

No, they want to attach it to your fuse box.

Inspection if your fuse box is a safety issue. They (your landlord) are obliged to inspect it. The tag is the digital version of a bit of paper that the safety people sign to say it has been passed as safe.

It is nothing to do with your meter. It does not monitor you. It monitors the inspection of your fuse box.

The council are trying to do better as landlords clearly. But hey, if you don’t want better safety in your council house, feel free to leave so that another family in need can be supported. Simple!

Sounds like a good way to ensure safety inspections are actually carried out. You say that nobody has ever turned up to do one before. Maybe you've been out and the person doing the inspection marked it as done so they could get paid without the hassle of needing to go back and try again.

I cant see the issue. Its for their record keeping. Probably more for the engineers sakes not yours.

Sounds a good idea and better than handwritten stickers. Much easier for the council to monitor which properties have had safety checks.

I don't work for "the council" but I can well imagine that those who do roll their eyes when you ring up. Why are you making such a fuss about absolutely nothing?

Like a pp says it's just a digital version of the sticker they put on there after inspection. Probably saves them time and paper work

They come and inspect the fuse box and electrics every 5 years and the boiler yearly

It's likely part of changes to increase safety of properties let by the local authority. Private landlords have been required by law to do these checks for years and social housing is being brought up to speed. It's a good thing to ensure your home is safe and for the housing provider to be able to demonstrate the checks have taken place. Absolutely nothing sinister.

No-one is being defensive. I am simply describing what these tags are for. I do not work for any council. And you haven't answered the question as to what doesn't add up.

As for legal obligations, you may well be legally obliged to allow this. You can refuse a smart meter as you are the bill payer. This is completely different. Whether the council can force this depends on the terms of your lease.