30 Sep 2022 12:00:18
Hi all, apologies in advance for the very long post, but can someone help please?
Firstly, I live in a Local Authority (Council) property in London. It\'s rented accommodation, not leasehold. A few years ago, the local Council were upgrading/updating a lot of the properties as part of the Better Home Scheme. Part of this included the installation of a Heat Exchange unit with a heat meter in every home whether rented or leasehold.
Now, 8 years later, they want to fit a Heat Communication Device to the meter enabling remote readings on individual heating and hot water use. They say that it allows the Council to accurately adjust heat charges as it will be based on actual usage. All this sounds very much like a smart meter to me.
Everyone that lives on the estate has received a letter explaining that the works to install the heat communication device is a legal requirement. Therefore, one must allow their contractors access to the property to implement the device. It goes further by saying that In preventing their contractor access to undertake the work, residents may be unknowingly in breach of their tenancy or leasehold agreements and may face enforcement action as a result (I know a lot of residents have refused the contractor access).
The letter goes on to say that the work is essential as the Council has a legal obligation to meter heat usage at properties connected to a district heat network (Heat Network Regulations 2014 and 2020 amendment).
The description of the work states that:
*A Heat Meter will record energy used for heating and hot water.
*A Communications Module will collect energy consumption readings and transmit these to a central facility (where and to whom is anyone\'s guess)
*A wireless network - a mesh WIFI technology will be provided in each block with a number of repeaters across the block to ensure strong signal.
All sounds dubious to me and, again, it sounds like a Smart Meter.
Has anyone else come across this? What can I do, knowing what I know now about Smart Meters courtesy of the many great posts here, I don\'t want any smart meters installed, but I don\'t own the property and the Council are pushing hard on these Comms devices.
1: Is there anything I can do legally to stop the install without the Council enforcing action?
Grateful for information that fellow posters can provide.
Secondly, I had a call out of the blue, then a couple of letters 2 weeks later about Fire Safety works across the borough. This will be the installation of fire alarm system in the kitchen, hallway and lounge. They say it\'s to keep you and neighbours safe (sounds like spin taken from the Vax programme) in case there is a fire. These will be hardwired into the electrics and will be monitored by, again, anyone\'s guess.
They go onto say that prior install, a resident liaison officer will visit to carry out an interview with the resident. They\'ll gather information about the resident and home. Additionally, they will arrive with another person from the company installing the fire alarms to take pictures of each area.
I might be paranoid, but this really sounds dubious to me. After living here 30+ years, there seems to be a whole range of works going on all at once.
I don\'t want them to install anything, I\'d rather get my own.
Has anyone experienced these types of works by their local council? what did you do to stop the install of heat comms device and fire alarms? and did you receive any grieve from the Council.
Thanks in advance for responses Kdirjb.
i said my bit about this before, good luck with it.
Kdirjb, all I can suggest is delaying tactics. If you are up to date with rent and council tax, you\'re not in breach of contract. Check your rental agreement for any small print but I would be amazed if they\'ve foreseen these plans and included them. If you have smoke alarms, you\'re covered and you don\'t consent to the additional work. Fingers crossed for you.🤞
Thanks Scouseduckred, I appreciate the response. Checked the rental agreement, nothing in there about any of these current planned works and definately upto to date with rent and council tax, and we\'ve got smoke alarms .
Cheers Kdirjb.
You first email or write to them saying you don\'t agree or give consent and
then it\'s up to them to prove something solid legally or try to get a court order.