Holiday-let energy: domestic or business contracts?
Start with the property, not the listing
- An Airbnb or holiday-let listing does not settle energy tariff eligibility.
- Check the actual use, current bill and supplier rules for each address.
- Compare the whole offer, including standing charges and commitments, not just the unit rate.
Domestic or business is a question to confirm
A holiday home can have a different pattern of use from a serviced apartment or a landlord's office. Explain whether the property is used only by paying guests, also used personally, or includes other business activity. Identify who is responsible for the energy account. Do not move a supply onto a domestic or commercial tariff simply because another property uses it.
Start with a complete recent bill and the current agreement. Ask the supplier to confirm the appropriate account and any evidence it requires for that property's actual use. Ofgem's business-contract guidance explains that business terms, prices and protections differ from standard home contracts; it is not a blanket ruling that every holiday let must have a business account.
Match the bill to the right supply
Record the full address, named account holder, supplier, electricity MPAN or gas MPRN where available, meter serial number and billing dates. A postal address can have more than one supply, so check that the bill belongs to the property and meter under review. Mark missing information as unconfirmed rather than borrowing details from the flat next door.
Look for actual versus estimated readings and the annual consumption figure. Heating, hot water, laundry and changeover days can shape usage differently from guest occupancy alone. If usage has changed, describe the change before relying on last year's consumption for a comparison.
What to compare in an energy offer
| Check | Why it matters for a holiday let |
|---|---|
| Unit rates and annual usage | Apply rates to a realistic consumption estimate; lower rates do not by themselves prove a lower bill. |
| Standing charges | Daily charges may continue through empty weeks and seasonal closures. |
| Contract length and price basis | Confirm what is fixed, what can change and whether other charges apply. |
| Renewal and notice dates | Find the actual deadline and what happens if no replacement is agreed. |
| Exit terms and broker remuneration | Check termination restrictions, charges and how any broker is paid before agreeing. |
A mixed portfolio does not need one blanket answer
Keep a separate review line for each property's supply. One flat may have an established domestic account while another has a business agreement awaiting renewal. Those arrangements need confirming individually, not automatically combining because the same manager oversees them.
A fixed unit rate does not fix total expenditure: the bill still depends on consumption, standing charges and applicable terms. A coordinated review can make decisions clearer without promising savings, one supplier or aligned renewal dates. Separate genuine contracts remain separate even when reviewed together.
Taking over a holiday let or changing the account holder
For a handover, retain the relevant tenancy, purchase or management evidence, the responsibility date and dated opening or closing meter readings. Notify the supplier and explain who is now responsible. A new booking, new guest or change of listing platform is not automatically a change of energy account holder.
Ofgem's business change-of-tenancy guidance is relevant where a business occupier changes. Confirm the supplier's process and requested evidence rather than assuming the previous occupier's agreement transfers to you or that all existing commitments disappear. Energy used before a new business contract begins may be billed under a deemed arrangement. Check the account before agreeing a switch.
Prepare an actionable property energy review
- Collect the evidence
Gather recent electricity and gas bills, agreements, renewal notices and the property address list.
- Flag the decisions
Note uncertain tariff eligibility, estimated readings, imminent renewals and any planned change in use or responsibility.
- Request options for the relevant supplies
Use the property review form. Select energy and give the property count; confirm missing account information before any contract decision.
Holiday-let energy questions
Does advertising on Airbnb mean I need business electricity?
No blanket conclusion follows from the listing. Check the actual use, account responsibility and supplier eligibility rules for that property before changing the account.
Can I assume a domestic tariff is available because the building is a house?
No. The building's appearance is not enough to confirm eligibility. Explain how it is used and ask the supplier to confirm the appropriate arrangement.
Do standing charges stop when the property has no guests?
Not normally just because it is empty. Check the tariff: daily standing charges can continue even with little or no consumption.
Can I leave a business contract as soon as I find a better rate?
Not necessarily. Check the contract end date, switching window, notice requirements and any termination charges before committing elsewhere.