One in Ten Landlords Prevent Tenants Switching Energy Supplier

[ALEO Admin]

A survey of 500 private-sector landlords, carried out on behalf of uSwitch.com, has revealed that 13 per cent of them admit denying their tenants the right to switch energy supplier, adding at least £161 million to renters' bills.

The survey also found that 36 per cent of landlords surveyed incorrectly believe that naming a 'preferred supplier' in rental agreements means they can stop renters switching, with landlords claiming high turnover of tenants and even late rental payments as reasons to prevent switching.

One thousand private-sector tenants were also surveyed, revealing that five per cent of tenants who haven't switched suppliers said that it was because their tenancy agreement prohibits it, with 39 per cent believing they must remain with the landlord's specified 'preferred supplier'.

Ofgem, states that renters who are responsible for paying their energy bills are allowed to switch supplier and that landlords and letting agents cannot unreasonably prevent them from doing so, although a ‘preferred supplier’ can be named in rental agreements.

To read more, visit:
http://www.uswitch.com/media-centre/201 ... to-switch/