Can my landlord say I can't change suppliers ?

[Starsandwishes]

Hi my landlady had a right go at me because I changed who suppliers my electric. I'm trying to save a bit of money. I did not know I had to ask and I don't understand how she would have the right to tell me who I have to be with when I pay the bill.?

Short answer - no.

Nope.

In my experience yep, it's up to them.

It's in my tenancy agreement that I can't change suppliers, but I don't know if that's enforcable.

If bills are included in your rent then yes, if you are responsible for your own bills then no.

I actually think it's illegal for landlords to dictate suppliers now. As long as you change it back when you leave, they have no say in who you go with.

How did they find out?

If you pay the bills, your landlord can have NO say over what emergy providers you use.

Never heard of that
And I've been a tenant and a landlord

No she can't!

www.goenergyshopping.co.uk/switching-suppliers/tenants-rights

Can I switch energy supplier if I’m renting?

Under consumer protection law, if you’re a tenant and directly responsible for paying the gas and/or electricity bills, then you have the right to choose who your energy supplier is. Your landlord or letting agent cannot unreasonably stop you switching.

What do you mean by as long as you change it back? That is ridiculous. The supply to the house is owned by say NationalGrid or Openreah for telecoms etc. You the bill payer rent the infrastructure and pay for usage from your preferred supplier for the period of your lease. When you leave no one pays until until the next occupier picks it up.

You can't just change the supplier back.

I thought that was the case did seem odd. Thanks all

No. As long as you pay the bill, you choose the supplier. Fuckwit tenancy agreements dont override common law.

Hotel I don't know where you got that from. When a tennant leaves the landlord pays the bills until the next tennant moves in. Who do you think the suppliers simply give out free gas and electric during the vacant periods? Even if there is absolutely no usage there is still the standing charge to pay.

My tenancy agreement says I have to ask permission but that it won't be unreasonable withheld and I have to change it back at the end of the tenancy and pay any costs involved in doing so (changing meters etc)

If you pay the bill, it is beyond me why your landlady would even care.

I want to switch to a water meter as I reckon I use a lot less than the 2 adults with 3 DC next door!

But my ll asked me not to so I won't/can't

You can change it. It can be an irritation if a tenant disappears and you don't know who the supplier was - maybe this has been a problem before for her? A water meter could well put off the next tenant paranoid.

Hotel the LL is liable for the vacant periods! I know, I've done it! Extremely tricky to do if the tenant has changed not only the supplier, but put a card meter in as well.

the LL is liable for the vacant periods! I know, I've done it! Extremely tricky to do if the tenant has changed not only the supplier, but put a card meter in as well.

literally 2 phone calls can establish who the current gas and electric supplier is

If you are responsible you can change it, an agreement or request in writing asking you not to is not enforceable. I'd avoid getting the type of meter changed though, that's a big hassle for both parties if it needs changing back - you'd be surprised at how unreliable suppliers are at keeping their appointments! The record with one supplier was 5 missed appointments for one property

It is entirely up to the tenant who they choose as their supplier.

If there's a prepayment meter in a property I would always suggest changing supplier - it's a very quick way of flushing out if there's a bill being paid back on the meter (I know someone who thought their rental house was just an electricity guzzler until they realised they were paying back someone else's debt).

Lots of LL's seem to think a lot of things that are none of their beeswax are things that they should have a say in (I'm a LL and a few of the local LL's on the LL's forum think I'm kamikaze because I let my tenant paint a whole wall).

She'd care because she wouldn't know who the supplier is, if you never informed her. How could she verify the tenant closed the account and gave a meter reading? What is she meant to tell the next tenant who moves is? Would you care if you were the next tenant and when moving in, your landlord couldn't tell you who the supplier was or even confirm it still isn't an open account with outstanding debt from old tenant?

As already stated two quick phone calls are all that is needed to find out who the supplier is, Google it.