🔔 Newsflash: Why We Use TECHEM Meters
We’d like to share a quick update on why we use TECHEM meter systems for heating and water consumption in our buildings. We understand there are sometimes questions around how consumption is calculated, and we hope this message helps clarify our approach.
📊 Why TECHEM?
We rely exclusively on TECHEM meter readings as officially registered by TECHEM, an independent and certified provider used in many residences across Belgium. This system offers several key advantages, particularly for tenants:
- Reliable & Objective: The meters are read digitally and nearly daily, ensuring accurate and tamper-proof tracking.
- No Surprises: Readings reflect actual consumption, not estimates.
- Cost-Effective: Using TECHEM may help you avoid the supplementary charge for an outgoing inventory, which would be required if we were only to rely on separate, manually taken photos.
- Independent & Fair: TECHEM operates independently, ensuring transparency in billing and data.
- Dedicated technical support provided by TECHEM for troubleshooting and system issues
- Enables flexible check-in and check-out based on your preferred date and time — something that wouldn’t be possible if we had to rely on meter photos taken during fixed inventory visits, which would otherwise define your official move-in and move-out dates.
- Allows tenants to receive a detailed overview of their total consumption upon final calculation, providing full transparency for their entire stay.
- While not mandatory, the landlord can monitor meter readings and consumption patterns during the stay or upon request. This allows us to proactively alert tenants in case of unusually high usage, potential issues like leaks or faulty valves, and help them adjust habits to avoid unexpected costs at the end of their stay.
Note: Only official photos taken at check-in or check-out (by IFIRMA or as part of the inventory) are considered valid if exceptions are made
🗓️ Departure Dates & Calculations
- Meter readings are calculated based on the contractual end date or the date of final cleaning—whichever reflects a more accurate cutoff in usage.
- We count on tenants to turn off heating upon departure, as consumption continues otherwise, and your landlord cannot control this for you.
- Dates entered during booking are automatically copied to our systems. Due to volume and timing, it’s not always possible to update these if tenants leave a few days earlier or later.
- While errors in calculations can occur, we always aim to be fair. If you feel there’s a mistake, I’m happy to recheck everything.
💶 Meter Rental Fees
Meter rental prices are set by TECHEM, not by us. These fees typically cover:
- Hardware installation and maintenance
- Access to the online portal with near-daily data
- Annual calculations and administration
- Technical interventions as needed
You’re always welcome to contact TECHEM directly for further insight into their pricing model. Their system was chosen because it’s transparent, objective, and beneficial for both landlords and tenants.
📎 For more details, visit: TECHEM Belgium Website
Hope this info was usefull for you! If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!