Garden Annexes: Simpler Energy Payments with Topupmeters Prepay Smart Meters

Planning policy in England is moving towards making better use of existing residential plots – potentially good news for homeowners considering garden annexes and multi-generational living. With prepay smart meters from Topupmeters, families can also manage electricity costs simply, allowing annexe residents to pay for the energy they use.

The 2026 National Planning Policy Framework is more supportive of sensitive development within existing residential plots, including additional residential units. Although the Government hasn’t gone as far as making self-contained garden annexes automatically permitted development, the direction of travel is encouraging.

For families looking to create a genuine annexe with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen for parents, adult children or other relatives, this could make such projects increasingly attractive.

But how does the annexe resident pay for their energy?

Once an annexe is built, homeowners face another practical question: how should the occupant pay for the electricity they use?

One option is to arrange a completely separate electricity supply. This can involve the electricity network operator, additional cabling and connection work, and potentially significant cost and disruption.

The alternative is much simpler.

The annexe can take its electricity from the main property's supply, with a Topupmeters smart prepayment sub-meter installed on the feed to the annexe consumer unit.

The annexe resident can then pay for their own electricity through the Topupmeters service, while the homeowner remains responsible for the property's main energy account.

This provides several advantages:

• Quick, low-cost installation by an electrician

• No separate energy supplier account for the annexe

• No expensive new electricity connection

• Residents can monitor their own energy usage

• Automatic low-credit alerts

• Reduced risk of unpaid energy building up

• Simple separation of energy costs between family members

For the homeowner, installation is straightforward: provide an electrical supply from the main property and ask the electrician to install the Topupmeter on the supply feeding the annexe consumer unit.

Planning a family annexe? Contact Topupmeters today for advice on a simple, practical way to manage the occupant's energy costs.

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