How to switch energy supplier if you’re a tenant

Understanding your right to switch

Comparing tariffs and switching energy suppliers is a practical way to manage your household bills. While homeowners clearly have the final say over their gas and electricity contracts, the rules can seem confusing when you live in rented accommodation. You might wonder if you need your landlord's permission, or if clauses in your tenancy agreement force you to stick with a specific company.

The rules are actually very clear. The right to choose an energy supplier comes down to one simple fact: who pays the bill. If you are responsible for paying the energy company, you are the customer, and you have the right to shop around. If the landlord pays the energy company and charges you later, they are the customer, and they make the choice. This guide explains how these rules work in practice, what your tenancy agreement means, and how to handle energy bills from the day you move in to the day you leave.

When you pay the supplier directly

In most private rentals, the tenant takes over the utility bills when they move in. If the gas and electricity bills arrive in your name, or the name of someone else you live with, you are directly responsible for the account. This means you hold the contract with the energy supplier.

Because you hold the energy contract, you can switch to a different tariff or move to a completely different supplier. Check the tenancy agreement for any requirement to tell the landlord or return the supply to a named provider when the tenancy ends, then compare rates, service and exit fees before choosing.

At the start of a tenancy, the property's existing supplier normally supplies you under a 'deemed contract'. In Great Britain, its standard-tariff unit rates and standing charges are subject to the Ofgem price cap, but another tariff may suit you better. Find the supplier, give it an opening meter reading, set up the account in your name and then compare your options.

When your rent includes energy bills

In some rental properties, such as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) or student accommodation, the landlord keeps the energy account in their own name. They pay the supplier directly and then pass the cost on to the tenants. This might be charged as a flat rate included in your monthly rent, or billed to you separately based on a sub-meter.

Where the landlord is the account holder and pays the supplier, only the landlord can switch that account. Tenants can ask the landlord to consider another deal. Separate charges for energy are protected by maximum resale price rules.

For energy billed separately by the landlord, Maximum Resale Price rules mean the charge cannot exceed the cost of the energy used, including the tenant’s share of the standing charge and VAT. Where energy is included in rent, the tenancy terms and the usual rules on rent and rent increases apply instead.^[1]

Ask the landlord for a copy of the supplier bill and an explanation of how a separate energy charge was calculated. If the figures show an overcharge, request a refund and seek advice from Citizens Advice before considering a court claim.

Comparing your energy rights

Your rights and responsibilities change entirely depending on whose name is on the bill. Here is a clear look at what you can and cannot do in each situation.

Dealing with tenancy agreement clauses

Many renters worry about switching because their tenancy agreement mentions a specific energy company. Letting agents and landlords often write a 'default supplier clause' into the contract. This clause names a preferred provider that the landlord uses between tenancies.

If you pay the energy bills directly, a default supplier clause cannot legally stop you from switching. Ofgem rules are clear that tenants have the statutory right to choose their provider. You do not have to stick with the landlord's preferred company while you live there.

Read the contract carefully for a 'notice and return' clause. This can require you to tell the landlord about a switch or return the energy supply to a named supplier when the tenancy ends. Factor that practical requirement into the tariff you choose.^[1]

This creates a practical trade-off. If you choose a fixed-term energy tariff with your new supplier, it might come with an exit fee. If you have to switch back to the landlord's supplier before your fixed term ends, you may have to pay that exit fee. Always check the terms of your tenancy agreement and weigh up the savings of a new tariff against any potential costs of switching back.

Even though you do not need permission to switch, it is always a good idea to tell your landlord or letting agent when you change supplier. This keeps communication open and makes the handover much smoother when you eventually move out.

Smart meters and prepayment meters

A tenant who holds the energy account can request a smart meter. Suppliers normally install standard smart meters without an upfront charge, but communications coverage and other technical constraints can affect availability.

Ofgem says tenants who pay the bills can choose to have a smart meter. Tell the landlord first and check whether the tenancy requires permission to alter the metering; Ofgem says permission should not be unreasonably withheld. A working smart connection can reduce estimated bills by sending readings automatically.^[1]

A tenant who pays the supplier directly can ask to switch to a standard credit meter or change a smart meter from prepayment to credit mode. A smart meter may be changed remotely; an older meter can require a visit. The supplier may ask for a credit check or deposit, and the tenancy may require the meter or payment mode to be changed back when you leave.^[2]

Government support and energy efficiency

Tenants have access to several support schemes to help with energy costs, provided they meet the qualifying criteria. Your right to claim these depends on how you pay your bills and what changes need to be made to the property.

Tenants receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit may be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount. For winter 2026 to 2027, the benefit recipient or their partner needs to be named on the electricity bill on the 23 August 2026 qualifying date for the automatic rebate. The main scheme does not pay a tenant whose landlord holds the supplier account, although a separate route exists for eligible park-home residents.^[1]

For properties that are hard to heat, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme requires large suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation or heat pumps, for low-income households. The current ECO4 scheme runs until 31 December 2026. While tenants can qualify for this funding based on their own income or benefits, there is a strict condition: any physical changes to the building require the landlord's explicit, written permission. A tenant cannot authorise insulation or heating upgrades without the property owner's consent.^[2]

Some properties still have legacy 'Green Deal' finance attached to the electricity bill for earlier home improvements. A legacy charge should have been disclosed before the tenancy began; ask the supplier and landlord for the agreement details if one appears on the bill.

How to switch as a tenant

The supplier-switching process is the same for a renter who pays the energy bills directly as it is for a homeowner. The switch happens remotely, without interrupting the gas or electricity supply.

Once you apply, you get a 14-day cooling-off period where you can cancel the switch without any penalty. Your new supplier will ask you for a final meter reading just before the switch completes. They share this reading with your old supplier, who uses it to generate your final bill, ensuring you are not charged twice for the same energy.