5 power bill tips for first-time renters

1. Take a photo of your meter when you first move in

You don’t want to be paying the bill for last year’s tenants if they haven’t closed their account properly. We heard of a group of tenants receiving a very high bill and disconnection notice a few months after they moved in because the last tenants hadn’t paid up.

Make sure you can clearly see all the numbers in the photo. Then send it to your power company so you both know what you’ll be paying for from the start.

2. Use Powerswitch to find the cheapest company and plan

If you end up with your name on the account, you don’t need to stay with the flat’s existing power company just because. Find out what the cheapest option is for your flat using the Powerswitch website.

It’s a bit trickier if you pay your landlord to pay the power bill – you could have a chat with them if you find a cheaper plan for the property.

3. Figure out how you’ll all pay the power bills

At the start of your tenancy, sit down with your flatmates and agree on how you’ll all pay the bills. You might make it an even split, or a flatmate with other perks, like a bigger room, might pay more. If someone has a partner who visits often, they might also stump up a bit more to cover the extra power their partner uses.

4. Learn how to keep your power bills down

Our website is packed with info on ways to lower your power bills. As a tenant, there are some things, like insulating and the type of heating, that you won’t have control over. But there are still lots of things you can do to keep down your power bills, such as using a slow cooker to bulk cook and choosing a cold wash when you do laundry. You can find out more in our article 30 ways to make your home more energy efficient.

If you stay up late, it could be worth looking into a plan that offers cheap or free periods at night. Check out our info on how to move your power use to make the most of one of these time-of-use plans.

5. Get on top of dampness before winter hits

It’s not uncommon to find mould building up in flats over winter. Now would be a good time to think of ways to keep your flat, or your room at least, dry throughout winter. Dry air is easier to heat, so you’ll be using less power to keep warm if your flat is dry. Dry air is also better for your health and can save your clothes from going mouldy. It’s probably an expense you don’t think you need, but you could really save costs – and your health – in the long run with a good dehumidifier.

We’ve pulled together a load of other good advice about things like dealing with draughts, curtains in rentals and your rights when renting in our free renter’s guide to a warmer home.