Letting Agency making us go with Ovo

Making_Music

Hi all. 

We’re about to start new tenancy. 

The current tenants are with Octopus (we met them when we looked round and the letting agent didn’t turn up!). 

We’d like to use Octopus too. 

The letting agency have a requirement that we sign up with OVO through them (there are a few built in kickbacks they get at various points!). 

The clause says our rights aren’t affected. 

If we accept that - how quickly will we be able to switch? 

Will we be locked in with OVO?

thanks gurus. 

Devongardener

Is that requirement written in the lease?  I don’t see that the agent can legally dictate which supplier you use if you are paying the energy bills. If the property has already been switched to OVO just switch back to Octopus, the agent wouldn’t know.

teaselMay

if you're not already with octopus ask the current tenants for a referral code - or I can give you mine if you don't see them. you both get £50 credit. That's probably what the estate agents are doing, getting credit for you signing up, they shouldn't be able to restrict your choice like that

Green_hopeful

We had something similar and it was most unsatisfactory. My aunt moved into a rental and we switched to the best provider and at the same time the agent switched her to a different provider. Neither switch went through properly and we had a right old time trying to sort it out because the provider the agent chose tried to bill on two estimated readings. I spent loads off of time trying to resolve it. In the end the bill couldn’t be resolved and they gave up but my 83 year old aunt had baliffs chasing her. Make sure you keep on top of your switch. 

silvercar

teaselMay said:

if you're not already with octopus ask the current tenants for a referral code - or I can give you mine if you don't see them. you both get £50 credit. That's probably what the estate agents are doing, getting credit for you signing up, they shouldn't be able to restrict your choice like that

OVO aren’t giving referral rewards at the moment, so that doesn’t apply. I wonder if it’s an old document that they haven’t updated.

theartfullodger

The agents are clearly a bunch of untrustworthy people who do not speak the truth.

Rent via some other agent.

artyboy

theartfullodger said:

The agents are clearly a bunch of untrustworthy people who do not speak the truth.

Rent via some other agent.

Agreed. Whilst I'd argue that this was an unfair/unenforceable contract term (especially considering the cost of energy, plus the only reason they doing it is for 'kickbacks', oh and what about 'right to quiet enjoyment' etc...), it points to the nature of the agents. If you switch, they might well find out if they are being paid ongoing incentives by Ovo, and then they will no doubt try to make your life difficult in other ways.

Really depends how up for the fight you are, but personally I'd walk away. 

PRAISETHESUN

Generally speaking, if you're responsible for paying the utility bills, then you have the freedom to shop around and choose your provider. Even then, I'm not sure how the LL/agent will know?

doodling

Hi,

While you are not a tenant, rhe landlord can select whoever they want as their utility supplier so they could swap from Octopus to Ovo in the period between the previous tenant leaving and you occupying the property if they wanted.  Obviously, that would be an agreement for supply in their name.

Once you are the tenant then you can swap to whoever you choose 

If the landlord is particularly idiotic, he could decide to issue you with a S21 at the end of the fixed term, but he could do that because he saw you smile on a Thursday.

FlorayG

No, that's just wrong. It's your home, your decision. The agent has no say in it

RAS

Make sure you give the EA's supplier and your own the final and starting readings.