Void Energy Management for Landlords: Reduce Costs Between Tenancies - Energy Angels
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Void Energy Management for Landlords: Reduce Costs Between Tenancies

Tags: landlord energy costs, landlord utilities management, property void period, rental property energy, UK energy tariff, void energy management

Managing energy across one or more empty rental properties is often overlooked until the bills arrive. But for landlords, especially those with multiple homes or flats, managing void periods efficiently can save time, money, and hassle. This article explores practical solutions for void energy for landlords, including worked examples of how others have streamlined their process and avoided unnecessary costs.

Why Void Energy Matters

Even when a property is unoccupied, energy charges still apply. Standing charges and small but consistent energy use, such as lighting or alarms, can quietly increase operating costs.

For a landlord with just one or two properties, this may not seem like a major issue. But for agents or landlords managing a portfolio, poorly managed energy accounts during short void periods can easily cost hundreds of pounds per year.

If you’ve already read our article on how to choose the best energy tariff for an empty property, this piece will help you go one step further and put those insights into action across multiple lets.

Common Challenges Landlords Face

Some of the most frequent problems landlords experience include:

  • Tenants failing to close their accounts on time
  • Properties defaulting to expensive deemed tariffs
  • Missed meter readings causing over or undercharging
  • New tenants inheriting disputes over bills or inaccurate usage
  • Lack of consistency in how energy is managed from property to property

Many of these issues are administrative but can result in lost time, increased costs, and tenant dissatisfaction.

Case Study: Managing Energy Across an HMO Portfolio

Location: Nottingham
Properties: 7 HMOs (28 rooms total)
Situation:
A Nottingham-based landlord lets out several houses in multiple occupation, with frequent tenant turnover. Each room is let individually, and communal areas like kitchens and lounges require continuous heating and lighting.

Problem:
The landlord was receiving multiple unexpected energy bills, sometimes addressed to long-gone tenants. In one case, a communal area racked up nearly £90 in electricity charges during a short void between tenants.

Action Taken:
The landlord implemented a new protocol:

  • All tenants are now required to notify him when they close their account
  • He maintains all communal area accounts in his name
  • He uses a void-specific tariff with low standing charges
  • Smart meters have been installed in each HMO property

Result:
Annual energy costs dropped by around £350. He also cut down disputes and saved several hours each month on admin.

Practical Steps to Manage Void Energy Effectively

Here’s what landlords can do to keep energy use and costs under control during voids:

  • Always take accurate meter readings at the point of tenant departure
  • Notify the supplier immediately and transfer the account into your name
  • Switch to a void-specific tariff if one is available
  • Choose suppliers that allow easy transfer to incoming tenants
  • Maintain digital records of energy usage, bills, and readings
  • Consider using a third-party void management service to handle the whole process

Letting agents managing multiple properties can streamline this even further with consolidated billing and smart meter tracking. Companies such as EnergyAngels help with this.

Case Study 2: Letting Agent Reduces Energy Admin by 75%

Location: Bristol
Properties Managed: 112 rental units
Situation: With over 30 active voids per month across their portfolio, the agency was losing track of account transitions and spending too much time handling energy supply issues manually.

Problem:
They received inconsistent final bills, tenant complaints, and confusion over who was responsible for energy when delays occurred between move-outs and new tenancies.

Action Taken:
The agency partnered with a void energy management provider that:

  • Automatically placed all empty units on a void-friendly tariff
  • Maintained a central dashboard with live status for each property
  • Provided meter reading tracking and alerts when readings were overdue
  • Handled switchovers and communication with suppliers directly

Result:
Energy-related admin reduced by an estimated 75%. Bills became more predictable, and tenants received clearer instructions on how to set up their own accounts when moving in.

They’ve since added this energy protocol to their internal lettings manual.

Tools and Services Worth Considering

To simplify void energy management, landlords can consider:

  • Installing smart meters to avoid estimated bills
  • Using apps or landlord portals to track meter readings remotely
  • Partnering with companies like Energy Angels to manage all energy transitions
  • Implementing standardised processes with letting agents or property managers

Whether you manage 1 or 100 homes, consistency is key to avoiding unnecessary costs.

Conclusion

Void energy may seem like a small detail in the bigger picture of property management, but when handled well, it can lead to real savings and smoother operations. Landlords and letting agents who prioritise structured processes and flexible tariffs are in a stronger position to reduce admin and avoid bill-related disputes.

If you’ve experienced any of the issues above, take this as a prompt to review your current setup and look at long-term solutions for void energy management.