Am I liable for the previous tenant's energy debt?
No. Energy debt belongs to the party that was supplied, not to the building. You are liable from the date you took occupation, and not a day before. What you need is evidence of that date and an opening meter reading — then write to the supplier and have the account split.
Last reviewed 2 September 2026 by Utilities Made Simple · independent, whole-of-market, supplier-paid — how we are paid
Why the bill arrived anyway
Suppliers bill the meter and hope the right name is attached. If nobody told them the occupier changed, the account simply runs on with an outstanding balance. It is an administrative failure rather than a claim against you, and it is resolved with documents.
What to send
- The lease, licence, completion statement or tenancy agreement showing the date occupation started.
- Your opening meter readings, photographed with the serial numbers visible.
- A short covering email stating the date you took occupation and asking for the account to be billed to you from that date only.
Ask for written confirmation that the earlier balance has been removed from your account. Keep it.
If they keep chasing
Put it in writing again, ask for a deadlock letter, and escalate. Micro businesses can take this to the Energy Ombudsman free of charge after deadlock or eight weeks. Do not ignore the letters, and do not pay to make them stop — paying can be read as accepting liability.
The one that does stick
If you signed a contract or gave a supplier your details before checking, you may have taken on the account earlier than you meant to. And if a debt sits on a prepayment meter it can physically block the supply, which needs sorting with the supplier before you take occupation rather than after. Read the meters, and get the occupation date in writing, before you move in.
Ask an energy specialist
If your question is not answered above, send it to us. A specialist answers personally, normally within one working day. No sales call, no obligation — and if the answer is "your deal is fine", that is what you will get.
Want this checked against your own bill?
Email a recent bill to info@utilitiesms.co.uk and a specialist will check your rates, VAT, levies and contract end date against the live market — free, usually the same working day. If your deal is already good, we will tell you to keep it.