Managing Your Bills
This advice may be useful if you pay your landlord for electricity or gas for domestic use.
This includes:
• Rented properties where you pay your landlord for electricity and gas used
• Caravan parks where you pay the park owner for electricity and gas used
• Holiday homes and chalets where you pay the owner for electricity and gas used
• Houseboats and marine craft where you pay the moorings operator for electricity and gas used
This does not apply to:
• Commercial premises
• Properties where charges for electricity and gas are included in the rent, site or mooring fees
What is the Maximum Resale Price?
The Maximum Resale Price is the maximum that your landlord can charge you for gas and electricity which he has purchased from a supplier and sold on to you. It is set by the industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Markets.
Anyone who buys gas or electricity from an authorised supplier and sells it on cannot recover more than they paid originally. How the landlord recovers charges depends on whether your consumption is recorded by a meter.
If your usage is recorded by a meter your landlord should bill you for the units used plus your share of any standing charge at the same price as he paid his supplier.
If your usage is not recorded by a meter the landlord should apportion costs according to the floor space you occupy and the appliances you use. The landlord must demonstrate to you that the method he has used to apportion costs is reasonable.
What can’t be recovered?
The bill that your landlord gives you for gas and electricity must only be for the cost of gas and electricity consumed. Any other charges such as an administration charge for billing or charges for lighting common areas must be billed separately and are not subject to Maximum Resale Price.
Disputes
You should ask your landlord to explain to you the basis of the charges he has made.
If you feel you have been over-charged you should take it up with the landlord in the first instance. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally you should call Consumer Direct for further advice.
