The UK Government has announced approximately one per cent of households across the country are not eligible for the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme as they do not have a domestic electricity meter and a ‘direct relationship’ with an electricity supplier. A large proportion of that figure is made up of energy customers living in a park home, houseboat or off the grid as well as those whose energy bills are included in the rental agreement with their landlord.
However, in newly published guidance, the UK Government has confirmed that further funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 towards energy bills for those households who will not be reached through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. An announcement with details on how and when these households can access this support will be made this Autumn.
The £400 discount will be administered by suppliers and paid to around 29 million consumers over six months with payments starting from October 2022, to ensure households receive financial support over the winter months. Households will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023.
Energy bills included in rent - how do I make sure my landlord passes on the reduction?
The guidance on GOV.UK states: “Landlords who have a domestic electricity contract with a licensed electricity supplier and then resell the electricity to their tenants based on energy usage must comply with the maximum resale price rules.”
The maximum resale price for electricity is currently set as the same price as that paid by the person reselling it. Under these circumstances, the Uk Government expects landlords to pass on the discount received to each tenant.
Landlords with a domestic electricity connection who charge ‘all inclusive’ rent, such as the case for many student houses, where a fixed cost for energy costs are included in their rental charges, should also be passing on the discounted payments to tenants.
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