Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.
Landlords Face Paying Tenants' Unpaid Energy Bills Under Ofgem Proposal
Landlords could become liable for their tenants' gas and electricity bills if energy suppliers are left without accurate details when occupants move. The proposal appears in a consultation paper published by Ofgem alongside the Budget, which would place a legal obligation on landlords to provide that information.
According to Property118, the government's wording makes the condition clear: liability would fall on landlords where the required information is not supplied.
The proposal would introduce a legal obligation on landlords to provide accurate details to energy suppliers when occupants move. Where that information is missing or inaccurate, landlords could find themselves responsible for unpaid gas and electricity bills left behind by tenants.
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the development is a reminder that tenancy paperwork and move-in/move-out records may take on greater significance if the proposal becomes law. Accurate occupant details, captured at the point of a move, would be central to ensuring the correct party is billed and to protecting landlords from unexpected liability.
The source report does not specify the full scope of the consultation, the timeline for any decision, or the exact information landlords would be required to provide. It also does not state whether letting agents would carry any part of the obligation, or how the rules would interact with existing tenancy processes.
Letting agents and inventory clerks should watch for further detail as the consultation progresses. The source does not indicate what happens next, nor whether the proposal will be taken forward in its current form.
Source: Property118