Record the meter or account number, opening balance, outstanding debt, tariff status and who controls shared supply in the tenancy handover. Put responsibility for future bills in writing.
Many disputes begin because a new tenant inherits an unclear account or several occupants share one meter without an agreed method for allocating costs.
The essentials
- Meter and customer-account identifiers.
- Prepaid balance or postpaid amount outstanding on handover day.
- Whether the meter serves one unit or shared areas.
- Who reports faults and keeps receipts.
What to check first
Start with the evidence already in front of you. A precise account, meter, product or safety detail is more useful than guessing from the outcome alone.
- Meter and customer-account identifiers.
- Prepaid balance or postpaid amount outstanding on handover day.
- Whether the meter serves one unit or shared areas.
- Who reports faults and keeps receipts.
Step by step
Work through the existing transaction, account or installation in order. Keep the reference and result from each step before moving to the next.
- Photograph the meter reading and latest bill during inspection.
- Ask the DisCo to clarify debt before moving in.
- Write the bill-sharing rule into the tenancy or house agreement.
- Record the closing balance and final payment when moving out.
Mistakes to avoid
These shortcuts often turn a traceable problem into a second payment, a lost evidence trail or a safety risk.
- Accepting a verbal promise that old debt will disappear.
- Sharing one meter without a visible calculation or records.
- Deducting arbitrary electricity amounts from deposits.
When to escalate
Notify the DisCo in writing when debt belongs to another occupant. For a private allocation dispute, keep the utility account issue separate from the tenancy agreement and obtain local legal advice if necessary.
Frequently asked
Is a new tenant automatically responsible for an old electricity debt?
NERC’s billing guidance says a new occupant should notify the DisCo so outstanding debt can be assigned to the appropriate customer.
How should tenants share one prepaid meter?
Agree on a transparent rule based on occupancy, submeter readings or defined shared loads, and keep each purchase and allocation visible to everyone.
Research sources
Official guidance, product information and public sources were reviewed on 27 July 2026.