What is an all-inclusive tenancy agreement?
An all-inclusive tenancy agreement is a tenancy where some or all household bills, such as gas, electricity, water and sometimes internet, are included within your rent.
These agreements can offer financial certainty, particularly during periods of rising energy costs.
If my Bills aren’t included, how can I arrange my own bills?
You can find out more HERE.
Can my landlord increase my rent because energy prices have gone up?
In most cases, no.
If you signed a tenancy agreement stating that utilities are included in your rent, your landlord is generally required to honour that agreement for the duration of the tenancy.
You are not automatically required to pay extra simply because energy prices have increased.
However, please see any exceptions below.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. You should carefully check your tenancy agreement for clauses that may allow additional charges.
These can include:
Energy Price Increase Clauses
Some contracts may allow landlords to charge extra if energy costs rise significantly.
This is uncommon, but such clauses may be enforceable if they are considered fair under consumer law.
Bills-Excluded Conversion Clauses
Some agreements reserve the landlord's right to move tenants from an all-inclusive arrangement to a bills-exclusive arrangement.
Again, this is only likely to be enforceable if the clause is fair and clearly explained.
Fair Usage Policies
Many all-inclusive contracts include a fair usage policy or energy cap.
This means energy costs are only included up to a specified limit. This limit is usually based on pervious tenants’ average usage.
What is a fair usage policy?
A fair usage policy limits the amount of energy covered within your rent.
The cap may be based on:
- Units of gas or electricity used.
- A weekly monetary allowance.
- A set percentage of the rent.
For example, a contract may include up to £15 per person per week for utilities.
If your household uses more than the permitted amount, the landlord may charge for the excess.
How can I check whether I have a fair usage policy?
Read your tenancy agreement carefully and look for terms such as:
- Fair usage policy
- Energy usage cap
- Utility allowance
- Excess utility charges
If you do not have a copy of your tenancy agreement, ask your landlord or agent for one. They should provide a copy within 28 days of your request. If you do not understand everything, please use our online contract checking service. You can upload your contract, and we can look for you.
What evidence should a landlord provide if they claim I have exceeded the cap?
The landlord should provide evidence of actual utility costs.
Students should:
- Request copies of energy bills.
- Check whether bills are based on actual meter readings rather than estimates.
- Keep their own meter readings throughout the tenancy.
It is a good idea to take date-stamped photographs of gas and electricity meters at:
- The start of the tenancy.
- Regular intervals during the tenancy.
- The end of the tenancy.
What happens if I exceed the fair usage limit?
Depending on the tenancy agreement, the landlord may:
- Deduct money from your deposit.
- Request payment during the tenancy.
- Request payment when the tenancy ends.
- Pursue unpaid charges through the courts.
My landlord has asked me to contribute more towards energy costs. Do I have to agree?
No.
Although some landlords and agents have asked tenants to contribute towards rising energy costs, students are generally not legally required to agree unless their tenancy agreement already allows for it.
Possible requests may include:
- A one-off payment.
- An increase in rent.
- Moving to a bills-exclusive arrangement.
- Signing up with a recommended energy supplier.
You may choose to agree if you wish, but you are not usually obliged to do so by law.
Should I still try to reduce my energy usage if bills are included?
Yes.
Even when bills are included:
- Excessive use may breach a fair usage policy.
- Reduced energy consumption helps the environment.
- Lower energy usage can help avoid disputes over utility costs.
Contract Terms and Consumer Rights
What tenancy clauses might be considered unfair?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, terms may be unfair if they allow a landlord to:
- Change important aspects of the tenancy after you are already bound by it.
- Alter services without a valid reason.
- Decide the price you must pay after the contract has started.
- Change significant terms unilaterally.
Potentially unfair terms may not be legally enforceable.
Before you agree to anything, always get advice.
Can someone check my tenancy agreement?
Yes.
Students are encouraged to use the contract checking service provided by Unipol Student Homes. Find out more HERE
Your Students' Union may also offer a contract checking service you could use.
These services can help identify:
- Fair and unfair clauses.
- Utility caps.
- Hidden charges.
- Potential risks before signing.
Saving Money and Managing Energy Use
How can I monitor my energy usage?
If you have access to your meters:
- Record readings monthly.
- Take photographs as evidence.
- Take final readings when moving out.
If utility accounts are in your name, ask your supplier about installing a smart meter. If a smart meter is installed this should be done with the consent of your landlord.
Why is it important to track my usage?
Monitoring energy usage can:
- Help avoid exceeding fair usage caps.
- Identify unusually high consumption.
- Provide evidence in disputes about energy charges.
The Unipol Code and Utilities
What protections does the Unipol Code provide?
If you live in a Unipol Code property, your landlord must clearly explain:
- Who pays utility bills.
- Who pays water charges.
- Responsibility for Council Tax.
- Any fair usage limits.
Find out if you are renting from a Code landlord
What heating standards should a Unipol Code property meet?
Landlords should:
- Provide adequate heating.
- Ensure heating is controllable by tenants.
- Provide clear operating instructions.
- Install programmable heating systems where appropriate.
- Fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to most radiators in wet central heating systems.
What about electric heating systems?
Electric panel heaters should have:
- An on/off switch.
- A timer.
- Or a timed boost facility allowing controlled use.
How do I check whether my property is covered by the Unipol Code?
You can use the Unipol Property Lookup service to see whether your landlord or property belongs to the Code scheme.
What should I do if my Unipol Code landlord is not following the Code?
Raise the issue with your landlord or agent first.
If the issue remains unresolved, you can make a complaint via our Online Complains form, a code complaints investigator will investigate concerns and try to help resolve the matter.
Key Advice Tips
- Read your tenancy agreement carefully before signing.
- Check for fair usage policies or utility caps.
- Keep copies of utility bills and meter readings.
- Do not assume you must pay extra because energy prices increase.
- Seek independent advice before agreeing to contract changes.
- Use Student Union or Unipol contract checking services.
- Monitor your energy use, even in all-inclusive accommodation.
- If in doubt, ask for advice before signing any variation to your tenancy agreement.