Buy-to-let landlords required to pass on £400 energy rebate to tenants

Approximately 13% of private renters pay their energy bills as part of their monthly rent to landlords.

The Government says this new legislation will make sure the energy discounts will be applied to the rental outgoings of some 585,000 tenants.

Charitable organisations had voiced concern over the prospect of tenants missing out on the rebate, given that those with all-inclusive bills would have the rebate paid to their landlords instead.

However, there may not be time for the new legislation to be passed prior to parliamentary recess, which does not end until 11th October. It’s not yet known if this will delay the rebate being passed on to tenants during the first month of the EBSS.

The EBSS will be paid in six monthly instalments, starting with a £66 energy bill discount in October and November, followed by a further £67 discount in December, January, February and March.

Additional targeted funding announced

The Government also confirmed the EBSS will be made available to residents of park homes, as well as tenants whose buy-to-let landlords pay for their energy through commercial contracts.

The Government is also offering a further £100 in support to households unable to get support for their heating bills via the Energy Price Guarantee. This could be due to living in an off-grid area of the UK or to compensate for the similarly high costs of alternative fuels like heating oil.

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Date published 22 Sep 2022 | Last updated 22 Sep 2022