Understanding Utilities in Rental Properties
Managing utilities for your rental property is essential for a smooth rental experience. Tenants need to be aware of their responsibilities to avoid unexpected costs or disputes.
Tenant Responsibilities
Under most tenancy agreements, as a tenant you’ll be responsible for:
Electricity & Gas
Setting up your own accounts, paying for usage, and ensuring meter readings are taken and checked regularly to avoid incorrect billing. Use of comparison websites is recommended to help get the best deal for your property.
Water & Sewer Services
When it comes to paying for water and sewage services for your rental property, as a tenant you’ll need to handle creating an account and the payments. If you are in Norfolk or Suffolk, Anglian Water will most likely be your fixed supplier for this.
Council Tax
As a tenant you’ll be responsible for paying council tax unless the property is classified as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). If you are unsure of your local Council, you can enter your postcode here to find out https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
A check can be made on the UK Government website to find out your council tax band based on its valuation, https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-council-tax-band/search.
If you are unsure of your council tax liability, you can call your local council to find out.
Broadband & TV Licenses
Arranging broadband installation and covering subscription costs will also be the responsibility of the tenant. There are often deals with different suppliers, so it’s worth checking out your options, but remember to consider the contract duration.
Tenants must ensure they have a valid TV licence if they watch or record live TV on any channel. Streaming any BBC content, either as catch-up or on-demand would require a TV licence.
Meter Readings & Avoiding Billing Issues
Regular meter readings are important to ensure tenants are billed accurately for their energy and water consumption. Tenants should:
- Take an initial meter reading when moving in and submit it to the provider.
- Schedule regular checks to monitor usage.
- Provide a final reading when moving out to prevent disputes over charges.
Buildings and Contents Insurance – Who is Responsible?
Buildings Insurance
This is the landlord’s responsibility, as it covers the structure of the property, including walls, roofs, and permanent fixtures. It protects against risks like fire, flood, and storm damage.
Contents Insurance
Even though landlords cover the building itself, tenants should consider contents insurance to protect their possessions against theft, fire, and accidental damage.
Some policies also include liability insurance, which covers accidental damage to the landlord’s property.
If you are looking to rent your first property don’t forget to check out our Guide for Tenants and Properties to Let in Norfolk and Suffolk.
