Change of tenancy for micro and small businesses
Guidance
- Publication date
- Industry sector
- Supply and Retail Market
Related links
When your business changes property, for example due to a property sale, business expansion, or bankruptcy, this is called a Change of Occupier (CoO) or Change of Tenancy (CoT) process.
You (or your energy broker or third-party intermediary) should inform the current energy supplier for the property of a change of tenancy as soon as you can, both if you are the business moving in and if you are the business moving out. You should inform the current energy supplier even if you are discussing contracts with new energy suppliers. This avoids unnecessary delays or billing complications. Energy suppliers will let you know if changes will affect bills that have already been sent to you.
If your business is moving and not changing energy supplier
If your business is moving into a new property and staying with the current energy supplier of that property, you should:
- notify the current energy supplier for the property about the change in occupier as soon as possible and include a meter reading if you can
- provide evidence such as tenancy or lease agreements, property sale documents, or title deeds when the supplier asks for it
The energy supplier will review your documents within 10 working days and either:
- close the old account and create a new account
- reject the proposed change of occupier with the reason why
- request more information and make clear why the evidence provided is not sufficient and what additional information is required (for example mortgage documents, business rates bills, or bank, solicitor or landlord letters)
If your business is moving and changing energy supplier
If your business is moving into a new property and changing the energy supplier of that property, you should:
- notify both the current and the new supplier about the change in occupier
- provide evidence to both suppliers, the new supplier can help with this
The new supplier will start the switching process. The current supplier will accept the switch if they agree a change of occupier has occurred. The current supplier will reject the switch if they do not agree and give you a reason why.
How to make a complaint
You or your energy broker or third-party intermediary should contact the energy supplier through their complaints process if you:
- receive an unexpected bill or have any other issues with bills
- disagree with an energy supplier's decision about your change of tenancy
- experience delays beyond the review period of 10 working days
- feel that the additional information that the supplier has requested is unreasonable
If contacting the energy supplier doesn’t resolve the issue, you can take your case to the Energy Ombudsman or get assistance from Citizens Advice.
Read how to complain about your energy supplier.
Further help
Read the complete change of occupier guidance on the Retail Energy Code portal.