Hey ​@Jamespen ,

Can you show us some photos of the setup based on what you can see please? This may help us give more accurate advice.

Thanks!

This sounds like it might be a looped service, where there’s a single supply cable from the roadside to the building, presumably into the neighbour’s property, and then a loop from there into your half of the building. However, there would normally be a cut-out (the box that contains the main fuse) before each meter, yet you seem not to have one. Have you asked your neighbour about this?

Your local distributor (DNO) may be able to explain the arrangement, so it would be a good idea to ask them. They may not be able to do anything at your request, if what needs to be done has to be ordered by the supplier. Find out what’s what first, then get back to OVO to get moving on installing your smart meter.

The chances are that your neighbour will have to be involved as well, because mucking about with main fuses could mean disconnecting the whole building meanwhile. You both should think about the future as well, because any plans for solar panels, heat pumps or electric vehicle charging points might require DNO approval and possibly action to upgrade the supply. 

Ok here is a pic of our board, this is in our hallway, in next doors house, this is situated in the bedroom cupboard which backs on to this wall, in they' re house in the hallway is a small hatchway which contains one large mains sealed fuse.

You supply  cable could be coming from another property

Have came across  thousands of these 

You supply could be it's own cut out in the other property  or sharing with another property  which means the other property would have to ho off to do any work in your property  and vice versa 

Used to get done this way way back in the day 

Looking at your picture and message this appears that there is only one supply cable and main fuse for both yours and your neighbours property. This arrangement would only usually be in place where there were two meters in the same household or perhaps for flats in a multi-occupied building.

Ultimately the way forward here is to get the two supplies split so each has its own main supply fuse. At the moment it looks like you need to have access to a neighbours property to carry out work such as a meter change. The next door supply will also be cut off in order for works on your side to be carried out with the present wiring arrangement.

May also be worth checking if a Building Network Operator setup is installed - your DNO can usually tell you if that’s the case as they’d keep it on file along with the relevant contact details.

If a BNO is set up, you shouldn’t need to cut everyone else off to have work done on your supply.