Switching while renting: what you’re actually allowed to do
If you rent your home, you might assume you’re stuck with whatever supplier the landlord or the last tenant picked. You’re not, in most cases. Ofgem is clear that switching while renting is legal for any tenant who pays the energy bill directly, and a landlord can’t block it or charge you for doing it.
The catch is that one word, “directly”. Whether you can switch depends on how your rent and bills are set up, not on whether your name is on the tenancy agreement. Get that part sorted first, and switching while renting works exactly like it does for a homeowner.
Who’s name is on the bill, and why it matters?
If you pay the gas and electricity company yourself, whether that’s by direct debit or on a prepayment meter, you’re the account holder. That means switching while renting is entirely your call. You don’t need your landlord’s permission, and you don’t need to tell them before you do it.
If your rent already includes energy, and the landlord pays the supplier on your behalf, it’s a different story. You’ll need to ask them to switch, because they hold the account, not you. Some landlords are happy to; others won’t budge. Either way, check your tenancy agreement first so you know which camp you’re in.
Quick check before you switch
- Is the energy account in your name, or does rent cover the bills?
- Does your tenancy agreement mention a “default” or “tied” supplier?
- Do you know who supplies the property right now?
- Have you got a recent meter reading to hand?
What’s a deemed contract, and why it’s costing you
Move into a rental and start using the electricity and gas, and you’re automatically placed on what’s called a deemed contract with whoever already supplies the property. Nobody signs anything. It just happens the moment the lights go on.
Deemed contracts sit on a supplier’s standard variable rate, which is almost always the most expensive tariff they offer. It exists to cover a gap, not to reward loyalty, so there’s rarely a good reason to stay on one longer than you have to. Switching while renting away from a deemed rate is usually the single easiest saving a new tenant can make.
Roo’s take: think of a deemed contract as the energy version of a hotel minibar price. Fine for a night or two, expensive as a habit.
Can your landlord stop you from switching?
No, not if you’re the one paying the supplier. Ofgem’s rules mean a clause in your tenancy agreement that tries to lock you into one supplier isn’t enforceable against you as the bill payer. Your landlord also can’t charge an exit or admin fee for you switching while renting, because it isn’t their contract to end.
Where it gets murkier is a “tied” supplier written into the agreement, often in shared houses or properties where energy is billed as part of the service charge. If you spot wording like that, it’s worth a quick call to the letting agent to confirm exactly who the account sits with before you start comparing deals.
If a landlord is genuinely obstructive despite you paying directly, Citizens Advice and the Energy Ombudsman both handle disputes like this, and it’s rarely as confrontational as it sounds once the account details are straight.
How to switch supplier as a tenant, step by step
The mechanics of switching while renting are no different from switching in a home you own. You compare tariffs, pick one, and the new supplier handles the changeover with your current one. Nothing about switching while renting requires an engineer visit or a new meter.
A few things are worth doing in order, mostly so you’re not the one left explaining a gap in the bills to a landlord or the next tenant.
Before you switch as a tenant
- Take a meter reading on the day you move in, and again the day you switch.
- Check the tenancy agreement for any named supplier or all inclusive rent clause.
- Tell your landlord you’re switching if energy is billed separately from rent. It’s polite, not compulsory.
- Keep the final bill from your old supplier somewhere safe in case of a dispute later.
Once you’ve picked a deal through a comparison, the new supplier does the legwork. Most switches complete within a few weeks, and under Ofgem’s rules there’s no need for the old and new suppliers to visit the property or install anything new. If you’re unsure what happens to your old account, our guide on contacting your energy supplier when you switch covers it.
What happens when you move out?
When your tenancy ends, take a final reading, photograph the meter if you can, and let your supplier know your move out date. That closes your account cleanly and stops you being billed for whoever moves in after you.
If you’re moving into another rental, the same rules on switching while renting apply all over again, deemed contract and all. It’s a habit worth keeping: check the account, check the rate, and switch if it’s not working for you.
Frequently asked questions about switching while renting
- Do I need my landlord’s permission to switch energy supplier?
- Not if you pay the supplier directly yourself. You only need their involvement if the energy is billed through your rent.
- Can a tenancy agreement force me to use a certain supplier?
- Generally no. Ofgem’s rules mean that kind of clause isn’t enforceable against a tenant who pays the bill directly.
- Will switching affect my deposit?
- No. Your deposit relates to the property and tenancy, not your energy account, so a supplier switch has no bearing on it.
- What if I don’t know who currently supplies the property?
- You can find out for free using Ofgem’s “who is my supplier” postcode lookup, or by checking a recent bill left by the previous tenant.
- Is it worth switching for a short tenancy?
- Often yes, since deemed rates are so much pricier than a fixed deal, though it depends on how long you have left and any early exit terms.
Renting shouldn’t mean paying more for the same gas and electricity everyone else gets. The rules exist to stop that happening, so it’s worth five minutes to check where you stand, and switching while renting from there is no different to doing it anywhere else. See also our guide on how to change energy providers, and if you’re sharing a house, our piece on splitting energy bills in a shared house covers the bit that comes after you’ve switched.
