Ask our Expert

Can I switch energy suppliers if I rent a flat?

Our expert says…

You are right to want to sort your energy bills out. The tariff that you are on can make a big difference to your energy costs.

There are several things, as a tenant, you should be considering:

Switching energy tariffs

Many tenants have the energy bills for the property they rent in their name. You might want to consider asking your landlord if you could take over the bills, paying your energy suppliers direct.

This will give you more control over the way that you pay your bills (for example you could save money by paying your energy bills by direct debit or by managing your account online). You would also then have the choice to switch energy provider if the current tariff you are on is not the cheapest.

If you are unable to get the energy bills in your name, and your landlord chooses your energy supplier, then you should definitely talk to him about the possibility of switching. You can use our energy comparison service to show him how much you could save.

Discuss the benefits with him, and let him know that switching is generally a very simple, straight forward process. If you use a switching service like ours, all you have to do is enter a few simple details, as follows:

• Current energy provider
• Usage (or if you don’t know, the number of bedrooms in your home)
• Method of payment used
• Preferred tariff e.g. standard (paper bills), online, capped.

You will then be shown the savings you could make if you switch to a different energy supplier. Choose which supplier tariff will save you the most money and all you need to do is enter a couple of personal details and your new supplier will take care of the switch for you, you won’t have to lift a finger.

Find out more about switching supplier with our energy switching guide >>>

You might want to tell your landlord that a better value tariff will not only result in cheaper bills for you, but potentially also for future tenants, which could make the property more attractive. In a recent Directgov (www.direct.gov.uk) survey, 34% of renters put household bills in their top three things to ask future landlords about.

Compare energy prices >>>

Energy performance certificates

As of 1 October 2008, the law requires all properties that are put up for rent to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

An EPC advises tenants on the energy efficiency of the property, giving it a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from A to G. The higher the rating, the more energy efficient the home is and the lower the energy bills are likely to be.

As well as helping potential tenants choose a property, the EPC also includes a recommendation report. This provides information on ways to improve the energy performance of the property and the potential savings to the household’s energy bill that these could result in.

The introduction of these certificates is good news for tenants, as landlords should be more likely to invest in energy efficiency measures, such as insulation, in order to improve their grade.

If you are renting an entire property, and the lease began in October or after, your landlord should have made an EPC available to you free of charge. If not, make sure you ask for one and discuss the possible renovations suggested in it.

Do I need an Energy Performance Certificate? >>>

Boiler service

By law, all landlords must protect their tenants’ safety with regard to gas appliances. It is your landlord’s responsibility to have your boiler serviced annually, by a CORGI registered gas engineer. If he is complying with this law, your landlord should be able to present you with a copy a valid CORGI safety certificate for your boiler.

Energy efficiency

Whether the bills are in your name or your landlord’s, you can reduce the size of them by practising energy efficiency in the home. Here are some effective energy saving measures to start with:

• Switch to energy saving light bulbs - This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to start saving energy. Priced from around £3, energy saving bulbs typically last 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and could potentially save you a staggering £7 per year per bulb. With the average home containing 17 bulbs, you could save up to £120 a year by swapping them over.
• Turn down the temperature - According to the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk), turning down your thermostat by just one degree centigrade (which you are unlikely to feel) can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.
• Change your appliances - Making sure you choose energy efficient electronics and appliances when buying something new will cut down the amount of energy your household uses and reduce your bills. Replacing an old appliance with an AAA energy rated one could save you up to £45 a year.
• Change your habits - You can become more energy efficient just by making small changes to your behaviour. For example, remembering to turn off your appliances at the plug rather than leaving them on standby. According to Friends of the Earth, your appliances still use around 70% of their usual energy when left on standby, so turning them off will trim down your energy use, and could save you around £25 a year.

Energy efficiency guide >>>

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If you have an energy query please email ourexpert@energychoices.co.uk