Energy bill for the previous occupant, or after you moved out

Great Britain · Rules checked 24 October 2026 · Not legal advice

Moving in

Citizens Advice says you don't have to pay for energy used before you moved in. Tell the supplier your move-in date, give an opening meter reading (ideally a photo from the day you moved in), send proof if asked (a tenancy agreement or completion statement), and ask for a new bill. On a prepayment meter, contact the supplier before topping up if there's debt on it that isn't yours.

Moving out

You usually pay until 2 days after you told the supplier you were moving, unless someone else moved in sooner. Give a closing reading. Your old supplier should send a final bill within 6 weeks and refund any credit within 10 working days of that bill, or pay you £40 each time it misses these: see final bills and refunds.

Wrong meter

Check that the MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas) and the meter serial number on the bill match your meter. Crossed meters happen, especially in flats.

If they won't remove the charges

Make a formal complaint and, after 8 weeks, go to the Energy Ombudsman. If a supplier never billed the new account for over a year, the back-billing rule also applies.