Blocked smart meter install: Bunched tails in floating Henley blocks – how to get it sorted?

[Follow4689]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some practical advice from the sparkies on here regarding a messy communal cupboard layout that's blocking me from getting a smart meter. I'm a leaseholder in a block of 4 flats, currently stuck on an inconvenient prepayment key meter. I just want a smart meter fitted, but the physical state of the cupboard is stopping it.

Octopus Energy came out but flatly refused to touch the setup. The engineer's official notes say:"Abort Comments: No space for meter or blocks to be fitted. Bunched tails in neutral floating blocks. Multiple tenants would need to be taken off supply for the meter to be changed. Customer to contact the BNO. TECH CODE TASO13NC"

I've attached the photos of the cupboard. As you can see, the Henley blocks are completely free-floating and hanging by the cables under the meters, right past the main green cutout.

The property management company is dodging it, claiming that because there is no dedicated "landlord supply meter" for the hallway lights, they have no maintenance obligations for any of the wires.

I’m not looking for a legal fight with anyone, I just want a practical solution so I can finally get a smart meter fitted. My questions for the trade:

1. Logistically, how does a job like this actually get fixed? Because it requires taking multiple flats off supply at the main cutout to safely mount these blocks to a backboard, can a local independent electrician request that isolation from National Grid, or does that application legally have to come from the building manager/freeholder?
2. If the management company keeps refusing to get involved, is there any safe, compliant way for me and the other cooperative neighbours to privately hire a sparky to mount these blocks without triggering a massive grid headache?
3. Has anyone dealt with these "floating block" deadlocks in flats before? What's the best practical route forward?

Cheers,

 

[JohnW2]

In addition to the issues you have mentioned, one might also worry about what is going under those various bits of green tape.

Have you already discussed the matter with the leaseholders of the older flats in the building? It sounds as if you probably will, 'as a group', have to commission (and, I suppose, pay for) the mess to be sorted out.

 

[Follow4689]

I havent touched the tape and try not to even go near it.....

Another issue is even if we all group together to pay for it, how can we get it done because it is before all of our meters so people don't want to work on it.

It is also getting the other 3 flats to agree, they aren't bothered. One of them already has a smart meter and the other 2 have no interest so won't spend money.

 

[Old Salt]

The DNO are responsible everything before the meters. The DNO changes according to which area you live in, send them your photos and explain that you want it sorted so Octopus can fit a smart meter.

 

[Follow4689]

The DNO are responsible everything before the meters. The DNO changes according to which area you live in, send them your photos and explain that you want it sorted so Octopus can fit a smart meter.

I have tried that. They even sent an engineer out to have a look. They are saying it is "Private Wiring" as it's after their fuse.

I am in Coventry so it's National Grid (Was western power). I am pretty sure it was Western Power who did it originally.

 

[JohnW2]

I havent touched the tape and try not to even go near it.....

I would strongly advise you not to 'go near it'. However, when it's all 'made safe' (electricity disconnected) someone needs to get the tape off and find out what's going on underneath it.

Another issue is even if we all group together to pay for it, how can we get it done because it is before all of our meters so people don't want to work on it.

If it's before the meters, then no electrician would be allowed to work on it - only the DNO (or, conceivably a 'supplier') could do anything to it.

It is also getting the other 3 flats to agree, they aren't bothered. One of them already has a smart meter and the other 2 have no interest so won't spend money.

If the other flats leaseholders aren't interested in being party to work, then you clearly have a potential problem. As has been suggested, I would think that you probably should contact the DNO, with photos, and tell them that you can't get a 'smart' meter fitted until the mess is sorted out - and see what they advise.

 

[JohnW2]

I have tried that. They even sent an engineer out to have a look. They are saying it is "Private Wiring" as it's after their fuse.

OK, if their taking that view, and since an electrician can't touch anything between the DNO fuse and the meter, then about all you can do is present your current supplier (is that already Octopus?) with that situation and ask them what (who) can sort it out.

 

[Follow4689]

The DNO have basically said it isn't their issue.

They did say they could "try" and fix it for a very large amount of money close to £1000 a few years ago but since then not much.

I was thinking, if I pay them to fit an isolator does that mean they would need to tidy it up at the same time?

(My meter is a 2 rate)

 

[Follow4689]

OK, if their taking that view, and since an electrician can't touch anything between the DNO fuse and the meter, then about all you can do is present your current supplier (is that already Octopus?) with that situation and ask them what (who) can sort it out.

I have been trying that for a couple of years now too. They just conveniently seem to forget, say it's with the engineering team (who don't have any contact details).