The Benefits of Installing Smart Meters in Void Properties

^{Last Updated: 08 April 2025}

Smart technology continues to play a growing role in social housing and smart meters are leading the charge. These meters record energy usage in near real-time and offer valuable insights to both landlords and residents. 

For social landlords managing void (unoccupied) properties, installing smart meters can now unlock even greater benefits thanks to recent updates in smart meter functionality, supplier compatibility, and support for vulnerable residents.

Installing smart meters in void properties is no longer just a ‘nice to have’, it’s becoming a best practice for housing management, improved compliance, and resident support.

Benefits to Social Housing Landlords

1. Reduced Energy Waste & Costs

• Lower Void Energy Costs: With automated meter readings every 30 minutes, landlords can monitor and control energy usage remotely. This means no nasty surprises when a property has been left on supply during a void period.

• Accurate Billing, Every Time: Automated readings eliminate estimated bills and manual meter reads, avoiding billing errors and overpayments.

2. SMETS2 Compatibility Across Suppliers

• All new installations now use SMETS2 smart meters, which stay smart when residents switch suppliers, solving a long-standing issue with earlier meter versions.

• These universal meters reduce the admin burden when tenancies change and make property handovers more seamless.

3. Sustainability & Compliance

• Smart meters directly support net zero targets and Decent Homes Standard updates by promoting energy-efficient behaviour and providing data to report on consumption and emissions.

• They also align with the growing emphasis on data-driven housing management, making it easier to demonstrate regulatory compliance and secure funding or grants.

Benefits to Residents

1. Fair, Accurate Billing

• No More Estimated Bills: Residents get billed only for what they use – no guesses, no surprises.

• Budget Control Tools: Real-time usage data helps residents stay on top of their energy usage, giving them more control over household spending.

• Remote Mode Changes: Switching from prepayment to credit mode (or vice versa) can now be done remotely via the supplier – no need for a technician visit or meter swap.

2. Increased Energy Awareness

• Smart meters offer daily and weekly consumption insights, nudging residents towards more energy-efficient habits.

A Win-Win for Void Management

Installing smart meters in void properties isn’t just about reducing costs, it’s about future-proofing housing stock. For social landlords, the benefits include:

• Proactive void management
• Faster turnaround between tenancies
• Reduced admin and call outs

For residents, smart meters support greater financial independence, energy literacy, and improved customer satisfaction from day one of their tenancy.

Looking Ahead

With the UK Government’s smart meter rollout still ongoing, and with all energy suppliers now expected to offer SMETS2 meters by default, there’s never been a better time to prioritise smart meter installations in void properties.

Smart meters are no longer just a tool for tracking usage, they’re a foundation for a more efficient, fairer, and more sustainable energy future in social housing.

As part of our partnership with energy suppliers, we can facilitate smart meters are installation in properties during the void period – ready for the next resident from day one.

Find out how our free Void Energy Management Service can help you cut costs, reduce admin, and improve energy efficiency.

Visit Energy Angels, or contact:

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