Renting Out Your Granny Flat? Here's How to Fairly Charge for Power

Introduction

In New Zealand, it’s not uncommon for homes to come with a granny flat, which is a self-contained space perfect for extended family or renting out to help with the mortgage. In a market where housing costs are sky-high, that extra income can be a game-changer.

But there’s one headache that almost every landlord runs into:

How do you fairly charge your tenant for power?

The Real Problem

Let’s say you’ve bought a fairly typical 7-bedroom house in Flat Bush. Two of those bedrooms are part of a granny flat with its own bathroom and kitchen. Renting it out makes perfect sense…until the power bill arrives.

Most homes only have one power meter from the energy company. That means there’s no way to clearly see how much electricity your tenant is using. As a result:

• Some landlords absorb the full power cost, even if the tenant is running heaters and dryers nonstop.

• Others try to estimate usage, which leads to disputes or undercharging.

• Installing smart plugs and power adapters for every appliance is clunky, unreliable, and impractical.

Enter Switched Homes: Smart Power Monitoring, the Right Way

At Switched Homes, we’ve developed a clean, accurate solution for this exact issue. One that doesn’t require any guesswork or plug-in gadgets.

We install a dedicated power monitoring unit directly on your switchboard.

This device tracks real-time electricity usage (kWh) from just the granny flat circuit, not the whole house. It is:

• Installed by our certified electricians

• Fully compliant with NZ standards

• Accessible through a clean app dashboard

• Completely separate from your energy provider's billing

How It Works

1. We install the monitoring device on the circuit(s) powering the granny flat.

2. You get live and historical data showing exactly how many kilowatt-hours the flat is using.

3. You apply your power company’s rate (e.g., $0.30/kWh) to calculate how much the tenant owes.

4. You invoice the tenant each month, just like any other utility.

It’s that simple and it gives both you and your tenant peace of mind.

Why This Matters

✅ Fair billing: Tenants only pay for what they use.

✅ No more absorbing unknown costs

✅ Transparency reduces conflict

✅ Better property management for multi-tenant homes

✅ Works for other areas too (e.g., home offices, workshops, or EV charging)

Landlord Tip: Add This to Your Tenancy Agreement

Once installed, you can include a clause in your tenancy agreement explaining that electricity charges will be based on actual consumption from the dedicated monitoring device, not an estimate or flat rate. It’s fair, simple, and traceable.

The Switched Homes Advantage

We’re not just selling tech…we’re solving real-world problems that landlords in NZ face every day. Our smart power monitoring systems are:

• Locally supported

• Professionally installed

• Tailored to multi-unit homes and rentals

Whether you're a first-time landlord or managing multiple properties, Switched Homes gives you the tools to take control of your power usage and protect your margins.

Ready to Take the Guesswork Out of Power Billing?

Book a consultation today or learn more about our switchboard-based energy monitoring solutions. Let’s make your smart home [and your rental property] work smarter for you.