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Living off campus

Energy Efficiency

During the second year of university, students typically move into privately rented accommodation for the first time. This might also mean paying the energy bills for the first time and there are many things to consider. This guide has been put together to help you understand a bit more about energy bills, EPCs, saving money and HHSRS.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Landlords must provide an EPC to all prospective tenants for free before any contract is signed. It is important to look at the property’s EPC before you sign a contract as it will give you information about how much the energy bills are likely to cost you throughout the year and how difficult it is to heat. The ratings are A to G, where A is very efficient and G is inefficient. The average rating in the UK is D.

The estimated running costs provided on the EPC are only an indicator based on age, construction, heating type etc. The actual cost of the bills will also depend on how you use energy in the property, i.e. how long the heating is on for and whether lights and appliances are left on.

To check the authenticity of an EPC go to www.epcregister.com and enter the reference number. If it is not correct or you have not been issued with an EPC at all, please contact the Trading Standards office or Consumer Direct.

Energy Bills FAQs

  • What are the options for paying my bills?

If your bills are not included in your rent then there are a number of different ways to pay the bills depending on your circumstances. If there is a prepayment meter then you will need to load credit onto a key card before you can use any electricity. Even if you do not use energy for some time the card must be kept topped up as a regular standing charge is applied and this will be automatically taken off next time you top-up.

If there is no prepayment meter you could be billed on usually a monthly or quarterly basis. You can usually set up a direct debit, pay online, by cheque, by telephone or at your bank by cash. You should talk to your energy supplier to work out which option is best for you as prices may vary depending which method you use.

  • What if I cannot afford the bill in time?

Speak to your supplier as soon as possible. The sooner you explain the problem the better, do not ignore the letters as unpaid bills can affect your future credit rating. If you get into difficulties with paying the bill, suppliers can often work out a payment plan for you.

  • Do I have to stay with the same energy supplier as the previous tenants?

No, competition in the gas and electricity markets means that you can now choose who supplies your gas and electricity. There are many suppliers to select from, regardless of where you live and you can choose separate companies to supply your gas and electricity, or one company to supply both – known as dual fuel.

To ensure you get the best deal, it is worth shopping around and making comparisons between the prices being offered by different suppliers in your area.

  • How do I change suppliers?

Once you are happy that you have selected the supplier best suited to meet your needs along with the most appropriate tariff and have checked all the details thoroughly, changing is a relatively simple process. You can either follow the directions on comparison websites and they will arrange the switch for you and tell you what you will need to do or you can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Get in touch with the new supplier and agree a contract with them. Once the contract is agreed, the transfer process should take about six weeks to complete. Your new supplier will keep you informed about how your transfer is being progressed.

Step 2: Give your old supplier 28 days notice that you are changing to a new supplier. Do this initially by telephone and follow it up with written confirmation. If you do not tell your old supplier that you are changing, this can disrupt or delay your transfer to the new supplier.

Step 3: Pay any outstanding bills owing to your existing supplier. If you do not, they may prevent you from transferring.

Step 4: Take a meter reading on the day you change supplier. If your old supplier does not use it to work out your final bill, or your new supplier does not use it as the starting point for your first bill, let them know the meter reading you have taken.

  • How do I make a complaint about my energy company?

First you need to go through the complaints procedure with your energy company. Suppliers should resolve your complaint within 8-12 weeks. If a point is reached where the supplier says it can do no more to resolve the complaint but you are still unhappy or the time limit has expired then you can now seek redress through the Energy Ombudsman.

Energy (money) Saving Tips

  • Change all your standard lightbulbs to energy saving bulbs, this could save you around £20 a year.
  • Use the timer on your central heating to ensure that the heating is only on when you really need it.
  • Turn off unused lights and appliances when you are not using them, especially laptops.
  • Turning the heating thermostat down by 1°C can save £30 a year. If you are cold, put an extra layer on before turning the heating up (please note the recommended temperature is 21°C).
  • Turn down the hot water tank thermostat to 60°C, you could save £10 for every 1°C.
  • Make sure you regularly give meter readings to your energy supplier for the electricity meter so you are not charged by an estimated amount.
  • Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.
  • Put lids on pots when cooking.
  • Make sure you keep the back of your fridge or freezer clear from clutter so that it can work more efficiently.
  • Don’t cover up radiators to make sure they can heat the room properly.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

This is the risk assessment tool used to assess potential risks to the health and safety of occupants in residential properties. There are 29 categories of hazards which include excess cold/heat, damp and mould growth, pollutants such as asbestos, lack of space and security or lighting to name a few.

Landlords must make sure that all their properties are free from risks to health and safety identified in the HHSRS. This means in the case of excess cold (the most common hazard) that tenants should be able to adequately and affordably heat their property. If you identify a hazard in the property you should contact your landlord straight away and follow it up in writing (remember to keep a copy). If this does not resolve the problem then you should contact the Private Sector Housing Group (PSHG) for further advice. Some issues may be settled informally but a HHSRS inspection may take place and enforcement action taken.

Useful Contacts

Only contact London Borough of Newham services if the property is within Newham, otherwise please contact the relevant Local Authority.

Useful Documents

UEL Accommodation Brochure‌

  1. Accommodation Agreement
  2. Handbook for Residents
  3. Conference & Events
  4. Download Brochure
  5. Follow this link for disabled access information for this website For disabled access information for the halls of resisdence see DisabledGo

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