If you live in a home with a business energy contract

If you pay a landlord or site owner for your energy, you are supplied through their business energy contract. This will affect whether you can switch your energy supplier, and what you can do if things go wrong.

Business energy customers are not protected by the energy price cap.  

You may be on a business energy contract if you live:

• in a park home or holiday park as a permanent resident
• on a houseboat
• on a traveller site
• in farm accommodation
• in a caravan or mobile home
• in housing provided by an employer (tied accommodation)
• in housing connected to a business premises, for example above a shop or pub

If you pay for your energy based on meter readings or estimates

If you pay your landlord or site owner based on meter readings or estimates, you have the right to:

• only be charged for energy at the unit rate agreed in your tenancy, licence or occupancy agreement
• see the bills and contract between the landlord or site owner and the energy supplier
• know how your bill is calculated if your home does not have a meter
• challenge charges that appear incorrect, unreasonable or have not been properly explained

You may not have the right to:

• choose your own energy supplier
• switch suppliers yourself
• access all the protections available to domestic energy customers
• make a complaint directly to the energy supplier if you do not have a contract with them

Check if your landlord or site owner is following the rules

Your landlord or site owner cannot profit from the energy they resell to you - they can only charge you the same price they paid. They cannot charge you for any energy that they use, for example, to run a site office.

As well as the cost of the energy you use, your landlord or site owner may charge a separate administration fee for services such as meter readings and billing. If you live in a park home, these fees must be set out in your written agreement.

If you pay for your energy through a fixed fee

If you pay your landlord or site owner for your energy through rent or service charges, you do not have the same rights.

Switching energy suppliers if you pay them directly

You may have your own contract with an energy supplier, for example, if your property has its own gas or electricity meter.

If you have your own contract, you may be able to switch your business energy supplier.

Contact your supplier if you think you should be on a domestic contract.

If you are moving to a home supplied through a business energy contract

It’s a good idea to check the following before you move to a home supplied through business contract:  

• who holds the energy contract
• how energy charges are calculated
• how much residents typically pay
• whether charges are metered or estimated
• whether you can choose your supplier or tariff
• whether it’s possible to switch to a domestic contract

Understanding these arrangements before you move in can help you avoid unexpected costs.

Help with energy costs

The help you can get depends on how your energy is supplied, and whether you have your own contract with the energy supplier.  

Get help with your home or business energy bills.

If you live in a park home and pay your site owner for your energy, you could qualify for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme.

If you have a problem with your energy supply or charges

If you pay a site owner or landlord for your energy and you have a problem or complaint, you should contact them first.

If you have your own contract with an energy supplier, you can follow their complaints procedure. Details should be on your bill, or on their website.

You can get help and support with resolving complaints from Citizens Advice.