Alternatives to SSE Superdeal tariff?

scones

EnergyTwist wrote: »

...and that's ignoring the fact you have allowed your tenant to switch supplier

Just to clarify for others reading this thread in future: there's no "allowed" about it. If the tenant is paying the bill, they're entitled to switch to whichever supplier they wish.
Of course, if there's a non-standard setup like this one that prevents switching, there should be room for sensible conversation between landlord and tenant about whether switching to a more normal setup would be beneficial.

EnergyTwist

Friday night is obviously troll night. I'm out.

Flt._Lt._Biggles

Flt._Lt._Biggles wrote: »

...
This topic has been discussed ad nauseam on this board in the past - no point repeating it all again

Looks like I'm going to have to...:cool:

scones wrote: »

Just to clarify for others reading this thread in future: there's no "allowed" about it. If the tenant is paying the bill, they're entitled to switch to whichever supplier they wish.
....

If you are going to post "Just to clarify for others reading this thread in future", please get it right. You will not help anyone if you post potentially misleading information.

This is what the energy regulator, Ofgem says:

Under consumer protection law, if you are a renting a property and are directly responsible for paying the gas and/or electricity bills, you have the right to choose your own energy supplier. Your landlord or letting agent should not unreasonably prevent this.

(my highlighting)

I would suggest that having metering that is not universally accepted by other suppliers, indeed where only the legacy supplier is obligated to support such metering either now or in the future, and hence the tariff is not transferable/switchable, would argueably be a valid reason to reasonably prevent this.

The Ofgem site also has the following "Tenant tips on switching and energy shopping "

Check:

• ...
• your landlord or letting agent notifies you of any tie-ins with specific suppliers. They must do this if it applies and they should give you details at the outset of applicable tariffs and charging details.
• if you are required by a clause in the contract to tell the landlord or letting agent if you switch supplier.
• if you are required by a clause in the contract to return the account to the original supplier, or the original meters if you have them changed, at the end of the tenancy.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/how-switch-energy-supplier-if-you-re-tenant

Be aware that whilst legacy suppliers are obligated to support existing customers with this type of metering, there is no obligation on them to accept new customers (including returning customers) nor indeed re-install such old style metering where a customers has had it changed.

So a tenant changing supplier or even metering in such circumstances could put a tenant in breach of their tenancy agreement, and the landlord could charge significant costs/damages as a result.

Don't do it!

scones

Flt._Lt._Biggles wrote: »

If you are going to post "Just to clarify for others reading this thread in future", please get it right. You will not help anyone if you post potentially misleading information.

I was simply balancing out what was implied by EnergyTwist's previous comment that appeared to be unnecessarily criticising jk0 for "allowing [their] tenant to switch supplier".


Yes, there may be a preferred supplier clause or some other tie-in. But the point remains that tenants should not be given the false impression that their general ability to switch supplier is something a landlord may allow or deny.



Restricted metering does, of course. create a difficult situation for both parties. These setups can often be beneficial to the tenant by offering better heating hours, etc. but equally in some cases they may no longer be appropriate or economical. I believe that should be open to sensible landlord / tenant discussion rather than adopting a "that's how it is, it can't be changed" line.