Renting your home? Why you call the shots on your energy bills
The Renters' Rights Act has just become law, bringing a ban on "no-fault" evictions, making it easier to have pets, and more. But there’s another crucial right you have as a renter that you might not know about: your right to choose your energy.
When you rent, it can often feel like you just have to put up with the setup you inherited when you got the keys (along with the terrible woodchip wallpaper). But when it comes to your gas and electricity, the power is actually in your hands.
You have the legal right to switch supplier
If your name is on the energy bill and you pay the supplier directly, you have the legal right to switch energy provider. You don’t need your landlord’s permission, no matter what Dave down the pub tells you.
Old-school energy suppliers love it when you quietly sit on their default tariffs, but they can be a lot more expensive. A quick check of your options guarantees you aren't missing out on a better rate.
Whether you’re looking for a cheaper tariff, green electricity, or you just want a company that actually picks up the phone instead of playing hold music at you for an hour, you get to call the shots. You can switch to whoever you like, whenever you like, without checking in with your letting agent or landlord.
(The only exception is if your landlord pays the energy company directly and then recharges you for it, or includes it in your rent. In that case, the choice is theirs, but it is always worth asking them to look for a better deal!)
No engineer or installer visits
No disruption to your supply
We'll inform your old supplier
Award-winning customer service
You also have the right to a smart meter (and free stuff!)
If you pay the energy bills, you have the right to get a smart meter installed. You don't have to stick with clunky old meters or estimated bills just because you don't own the property. As the account holder, you can get a smart meter from your supplier.
Ofgem rules mean your landlord or letting agent can’t stop you from getting one. We always recommend giving them a quick heads-up out of courtesy, but the decision is ultimately yours.
Getting a smart meter means saying goodbye to manual meter readings and only paying for exactly what you use. But at Octopus, it also unlocks something much more fun: Octoplus.
The wonderful world of Octoplus
Play the Wheel of Fortune: You get guaranteed Octopoints every time you spin, which you can convert into bill credit! And just for having a smart meter, you get extra spins every single month.
Earn Octopoints: Take part in our Saving Sessions by using less energy when the grid is dirty, and we'll literally pay you in points that you can convert into account credit.
Get free electricity: When the grid is overloaded with cheap, green wind and solar power, we regularly run sessions where the electricity you use is absolutely free.
Grab weekly treats: Claim regular perks like free hot drinks, discounted Vue cinema tickets and cheap National Trust days out.
Make your rented house your home
The Renters' Rights Act is great news for tenants across the country, ensuring your house truly feels like your home. And taking control of your energy is just one more way to make that home work better for you.
If you’re a renter and you want to switch to fairer, greener energy (and get rewarded for it) we’d love to have you.
Published on 26th May 2026 by:
Nicki Slater-Arnold
Writer