✅If You Pay the Bill, You Have the Right to Switch
This is the single most misunderstood fact about renting and energy: if your name is on the energy bill and you pay the supplier directly, you are the customer — not your landlord. Under Ofgem's rules, the bill payer has the right to choose their energy supplier, and a landlord cannot refuse permission or charge you for switching.
That covers the majority of UK renters: anyone who receives a bill from a supplier and pays it themselves (by direct debit, on receipt of bill, or via a prepayment meter). You don't need to ask first, although letting your landlord or letting agent know is a sensible courtesy — especially if your tenancy mentions energy suppliers (more on that below).
And switching is worth doing: Octopus serves 7.3 million UK households, holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from over 779,000 reviews, and has been Which? Recommended for 9 years running — all on 100% renewable electricity.
🚫When You Can't Switch (and What to Do Instead)
The right to switch follows the bill. If your energy is included in your rent — common in house shares, student lets, and some HMOs — your landlord pays the supplier, which makes the landlord the customer. In that case, only they can switch, and you can't move the property to Octopus yourself.
You're not powerless, though. You can ask your landlord to switch — pointing out that a cheaper, better-rated supplier costs them nothing to move to. And if your landlord resells energy to you (charging you for what you use), they're bound by Ofgem's maximum resale price rules: they can't charge you more than they paid for the energy plus a proportionate share of the standing charge.
The same applies if the landlord holds the account in their name and you reimburse them. The test is always: whose name is on the bill, and who pays the supplier? If it's you, you can switch. If it's them, you can't — but you can lobby.
📋Check Your Tenancy Agreement First
Some tenancy agreements include a “default supplier” clause — wording that says the property is supplied by a particular company, or that you must tell the landlord before changing supplier. Don't panic if you spot one. These clauses can't remove your right to switch if you pay the bill directly; what they can reasonably do is require you to notify the landlord and return the property to the original supplier at the end of your tenancy.
The practical approach: take a photo of the meter and note the existing supplier and tariff when you move in, drop your landlord or agent a quick message saying you're switching, and keep both. If the tenancy asks for it, switching back at the end takes the same five minutes the original switch did — and since Octopus charges no exit fees on its flexible tariffs, leaving costs you nothing.
If you're unsure who currently supplies your home, you can find your electricity supplier via the meter point administration services or simply ask the previous tenant or agent — our how switching works guide explains the lot.
📱Smart Meters in Rented Homes
Renters can get smart meters too. If you pay the energy bill, you can request a free smart meter installation, and Ofgem's guidance is that a landlord shouldn't unreasonably prevent it. Because fitting one means replacing the existing meter, it's wise — and sometimes required by your tenancy — to give your landlord a heads-up first, but the decision ultimately sits with the bill payer.
A smart meter is worth having as a renter: no more reading a meter in a dusty cupboard, accurate bills instead of estimates (important when you want a clean final bill at the end of a tenancy), and access to Octopus's cheaper smart tariffs. Read our smart meters guide for the full picture.
🔄How to Switch as a Renter — Step by Step
Switching is entirely administrative — no engineer visit, no new wires or pipes, and nothing physical changes in the property. Your supply is never interrupted. Here's the whole process:
- Check you pay the bill directly — if yes, the switch is your call
- Skim your tenancy agreement for any supplier or notification clause
- Take a meter reading (photo it — useful for your final bill and your deposit file)
- Sign up via our referral link — takes about 5 minutes and earns you £50 free credit
- Octopus handles everything else — they contact your old supplier and complete the switch, typically within days
- Optionally tell your landlord or agent — a courtesy, not a permission request
That's it. Your old supplier sends a final bill based on the handover reading, and any credit you've built up with them is refunded to you.
🏠Why Octopus Suits Renters
The short version: a flexible Octopus tariff behaves exactly how a renter needs it to — no lock-in, no exit fees, nothing physical installed, and an account you can close or move in minutes when your tenancy changes.
📦Moving Out? Here's What to Do
When your tenancy ends, take final meter readings on moving day (photo them with a timestamp) and submit them to Octopus to close your account. You'll only be billed up to that date, and any credit balance is refunded. If your tenancy had a default supplier clause, this is the moment to switch the property back — again, five minutes of admin.
At your new place, you can bring Octopus with you — and if you're signing up fresh at a new address, the £50 referral credit (split £50 each between you and the referrer) works there too. Our moving home guide walks through the whole handover, including what to do if your new rental is supplied by someone else on day one.