How Do I Get My £400 Energy Rebate if I Am a Tenant?

If you’re a tenant, you may be concerned about whether or not you will receive the £400 discount under the Energy Bills Support Scheme starting in October.

In this guide, we’ll be explaining all you need to know about the discount, including whether or not your landlord is allowed to keep it and how you can access it.

What is the Energy Bill Discount?

At the end of July, the UK Government announced that millions of households across Great Britain would receive non-repayable discounts on their energy bills as prices continue to rise.

The £400 discount will be administered by energy suppliers over 6 months, with payments starting from October 2022 to ensure that households receive the much needed financial support over the coming winter months.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme forms part of the government’s £37 million Cost of Living Support package, providing Help for Households with rising prices, targeted at those most in need.

How Will the Energy Bill Discount be Paid?

The discount will be spread over a six month period, with homes receiving a £66 discount on their energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December to March 2023.

Households with domestic electricity meter points that pay for their energy via standard credit, payment card and direct debit will see an automatic deduction to their bills.

Customers with a traditional prepayment meter will receive Energy Bill discount vouchers from the first week of each month, which will be issued via SMS text, email or post. The discount can then be redeemed by presenting the vouchers at a top-up point, such as your local PayPoint or Post Office.

I’m a Tenant– Will I Receive the Discount?

Students and other tenants renting properties with domestic electricity contracts from landlords where fixed energy costs are included in their rental charges will also receive the discount.

Although there is no specific legal obligation for landlords to pass on the support, they aren’t legally allowed to overcharge tenants for their energy or make a profit on it, meaning they are obligated to pass the discounted payments on appropriately to avoid making profit, in line with Ofem’s rules to protect tenants.

To ensure you aren’t overpaying, you should make a note of how much energy you use and check that you aren’t paying more than you should.

If you think you have been overcharged, ask your landlord for a copy of the bill and to explain how they have worked out the charges.

If they have charged you more than the maximum resale price (with any discounts applied) you can ask them to:

• Lower the charge to the correct amount

• Refund the difference if you have already paid

If you are unable to resolve the dispute, you can try to get the money by bringing a claim against your landlord in the small claims court for the amount you’ve been overcharged plus interest.

Is There Further Support Available?

Households who are most in need of financial aid will be eligible for further support in addition to the Energy Bill discount, including:

• A £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for around 8 million households on means tested benefits.

• A £300 one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for over 8 million pensioner households to be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment.

• A £150 one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment for around six million people across the UK who receive certain disability benefits.

• A £500 million increase and extension of the Household Support Fund available to councils to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials such as food, utilities and clothing.

For more advice on yourenergy bills, head over to our handyblog where you can find a range of tips and information for your home or business.