TL;DR
If you pay the energy supplier directly, you usually have the right to choose your tariff and switch supplier, and your tenancy cannot unreasonably stop you. If your landlord resells energy to you, a maximum resale price limits the charge. Most rented homes must also meet a minimum energy efficiency standard. Your rights depend on who holds the account.
Last reviewed: June 2026
| Energy and bills |
Key facts
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Your rights depend on who holds the account
The starting point for any tenant energy question is who holds the account. The table below sets out the three common situations and what each means for your rights. If your name is on the account and you pay the supplier directly, you have the most control.
If energy is included in your rent and the landlord holds the account, you cannot switch, because you are not the supplier customer. In that case the landlord chooses the supply.
When you can switch supplier
If you pay the supplier directly, you normally have the right to choose your tariff and switch supplier. A tenancy may require you to return the account to the original supplier when you leave, but it cannot unreasonably block you from switching while you live there.
Switching is low-risk: the supply itself does not change, only who bills you and at what rate. Compare the unit rate and standing charge together when you do.
| Situation | Who holds the account | Your rights |
|---|---|---|
| You pay the supplier directly | You | Choose tariff and switch supplier; tenancy cannot unreasonably block it |
| Energy included in your rent | Landlord | You cannot switch; the landlord chooses the supply |
| Landlord resells energy to you | Landlord | Protected by the maximum resale price; cannot be charged a profit margin |
Your control over energy follows whose name the account is in.
The maximum resale price
Where a landlord buys energy and resells it to a tenant, for example through a sub-meter or a fixed charge, rules limit what they can charge. The maximum resale price means a landlord cannot profit on the energy by charging more than they paid plus a permitted amount.
If you think you are being overcharged for resold energy, raise it with your landlord and, if needed, seek help from Citizens Advice. Keep copies of bills and any sub-meter readings as evidence.
Efficiency standards, faults and complaints
Most privately rented homes in England and Wales must meet a minimum energy efficiency standard before being let, measured by the property Energy Performance Certificate. Ask to see the EPC, which estimates running costs and efficiency: a poor rating warns that bills may be high.
Your supplier, not your landlord, is responsible for the safe supply and the meter, so report faults to the supplier first. If a problem is not resolved, the Energy Ombudsman can review complaints once the supplier complaints process is exhausted.
Related guides |
This guide is editorial information based on official UK public sources as at June 2026 and is not financial advice. Figures and thresholds change: confirm current details with the official source before acting. Kael Tripton Ltd is an independent publisher, is not regulated by the FCA, and takes no commission, quotes or lead fees on the products discussed. |
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord stop me switching supplier?
If you pay the supplier directly, a tenancy cannot unreasonably prevent switching, though it may require switching back when you leave. If energy is included in rent, the landlord controls the supply.
Can a landlord charge more than they pay for energy?
No. Where energy is resold, the maximum resale price limits the charge to what the landlord paid plus a permitted amount. They cannot profit on it.
Who fixes a broken meter?
The energy supplier is responsible for the meter and the safe supply. Report faults to the supplier.
Can I see how efficient the property is?
Yes. Ask for the Energy Performance Certificate, which most rented homes must have and which estimates efficiency and running costs.
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