Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he plans to take to ensure that energy bill rebates for student accommodation landlords are evenly distributed amongst their tenants.

If landlords have a domestic electricity meter point, they will receive £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The Government encourages landlords to pass the payment to tenants to ensure it is reflected in tenants’ inclusive charges or separate bill payments. If landlords have a commercial meter, they will not receive the £400 payment.

As per Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Price guidance (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2005/10/11782-resaleupdateoct05_3.pdf) there are rules which can protect tenants and ensure they are being charged no more than they should be when they buy the electricity through their landlord.

The Government is working with key stakeholder groups in the private rented sector to help communicate this information.