Renting - switching supplier

Boudica78

Hi,

Just about to rent my first (studio) flat. Letting agents have set me up with Ovo - without asking. Tenancy agreement has a clause where I must notify landlord if I switch and switch back at the end of tenancy.
Is this legal (especially the switching back bit). Is it worth the hassle of switching?

tacpot12

You would have to look at Ovo's rates and the other rates availe using a service like https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/campaign/brand/

Gerry1

The agency gets a kickback from Ovo so it's unlikely that you're been put on the cheapest tariff.  Ovo don't have the best reputation either.

Switch to a better supplier such as Octopus and find someone to refer you so that you share £100.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

Boudica78

Gerry1 said:

The agency gets a kickback from Ovo so it's unlikely that you're been put on the cheapest tariff.  Ovo don't have the best reputation either.

Switch to a better supplier such as Octopus and find someone to refer you so that you share £100.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

This is what I assumed - the agency were taking a cut. I have heard good things about Octopus. Thanks for the refer tip too.

molerat

Boudica78 said:

Hi,

Just about to rent my first (studio) flat. Letting agents have set me up with Ovo - without asking. Tenancy agreement has a clause where I must notify landlord if I switch and switch back at the end of tenancy.
Is this legal (especially the switching back bit). Is it worth the hassle of switching?

What are they going to do - evict you for breaching your tenancy agreement ...... after you have left.  Totally unenforceable nonsense.

Scot_39

If your on a standard variable tariff many just charge the Ofgem cap.

Or the savings are small - but you could grab a £50 switching bonus with some suppliers - for you and a friend.

You are certainly allowed to switch.

And in the old days - if that involved a meter change - e.g. prepay / credit then yes - according to the CA pages - the landlord could insist you pay to have it switched back.

And you need to be careful about signing in to a fix - too

See the section

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

"You should check your tenancy agreement. It might say you have to return the account to the original supplier at the end of your tenancy."

All sounds normal.  So probably legal.

Scot_39

molerat said:

Boudica78 said:

Hi,

Just about to rent my first (studio) flat. Letting agents have set me up with Ovo - without asking. Tenancy agreement has a clause where I must notify landlord if I switch and switch back at the end of tenancy.
Is this legal (especially the switching back bit). Is it worth the hassle of switching?

What are they going to do - evict you for breaching your tenancy agreement ...... after you have left.  Totally unenforceable nonsense.

Dangerous - if the person forecasts renting in future.

Boudica78

molerat said:

Boudica78 said:

Hi,

Just about to rent my first (studio) flat. Letting agents have set me up with Ovo - without asking. Tenancy agreement has a clause where I must notify landlord if I switch and switch back at the end of tenancy.
Is this legal (especially the switching back bit). Is it worth the hassle of switching?

What are they going to do - evict you for breaching your tenancy agreement ...... after you have left.  Totally unenforceable nonsense.

Possibly charge the cost of switching back? But thanks

Boudica78

Scot_39 said:

If your on a standard variable tariff many just charge the Ofgem cap.

Or the savings are small - but you could grab a £50 switching bonus with some suppliers - for you and a friend.

You are certainly allowed to switch.

And in the old days - if that involved a meter change - e.g. prepay / credit then yes - according to the CA pages - the landlord could insist you pay to have it switched back.

And you need to be careful about signing in to a fix - too

See the section

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

"You should check your tenancy agreement. It might say you have to return the account to the original supplier at the end of your tenancy."

All sounds normal.  So probably legal.

Thanks - I probably didn't really mean legal. I've also read that Ofgem advise against such a clause.

Scot_39

Ofgem wont guarantee a tenant a good reference or the tennants full deposit back - remember a landlord can charge costs against the deposit - how much would an agent say charge them per hour to swap supplier back - if they annoy a landlord by ignoring the letting arrangement.