Do you have a vacant property and don’t want it costing you more than it should?

If you think your property may be unoccupied for a few months, you should consider switching energy tariffs. Your energy bills may be more expensive than you expected, even when leaving the lights and heating off. Switching everything off does not guarantee low energy bills. Not running your heating can also lead to other costly expenses, such as frozen and burst pipes. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure you are choosing the correct energy tariff for your empty property.

What Energy Tariffs are fit for unoccupied properties?

It is vital that energy suppliers receive frequent updates on meter readings. Therefore, to minimise the work for the owner, it is recommended that you install a smart meter. You can read about meter installations here. Gas Meter Installations

Low/no standing charge

Many energy deals come with a standing charge. This is a daily charge you pay to your energy supplier. It covers the fixed costs of your energy bills. You pay it regardless of how much energy you are using. This means the charge applies even on days when the property uses nothing at all. Some energy deals, however, offer no standing charges.

These are ideal for unoccupied properties as the unit charge would be higher, but less energy would be consumed. For an unoccupied property, it usually works out cheaper to take a lower or no standing charge with a higher unit price. This is better than a deal with a higher standing charge. Keep in mind, though, that the opposite applies if your property is occupied. In that case, a lower standing charge and higher unit price will only push your bills up as more energy is used. Most property owners assume that completely cutting off the energy will be the cheapest option. However, this will make the property less appealing to potential buyers and could cause long-term damage to the property, which could become more costly.

Instead, turning the heating on every so often can help prevent any long-term damage to the property and keep it appealing to future potential buyers. It may cost a little more upfront, but it often ends up the cheaper option in the long run. It may seem unappealing at first glance, but it is the most cost-effective and practical option for your vacant property. No standing charge ensures that you pay only for the energy you use and nothing more. Furthermore, before you choose which energy tariff to go for, research how much power you are expected to use first.

Can I get a Business Energy Tariff for my Unoccupied Property?

Of course! If your business has an empty premise for certain parts of the year, you can also get business energy deals catering to commercial gas and electricity consumption. These tariffs can be shaped around your seasonal usage, so you stay covered during quieter spells without overpaying while the premises sit empty. If you would like a quote on energy tariffs for your vacant property, please enter your details below to get a quote from our expert team.

Watch out for deemed and out-of-contract rates

One of the easiest ways to overpay on an empty property is simply to do nothing. When a fixed contract ends and you have not agreed a new one, your supplier will normally switch you to deemed or out-of-contract rates. These are the supplier's default prices, and they tend to be much higher than anything you could arrange yourself. For a property that is sitting empty, that often means paying a premium unit rate and a full standing charge on energy you are hardly using. The simplest way to avoid this is to check your contract end date and notice period before the property becomes vacant, not after. Suppliers usually ask for notice within a set window, and missing it can tie you into another costly term or trigger an automatic renewal. Reviewing your auto-renewal terms early gives you the freedom to move to a tariff that genuinely suits an empty property. That way, you are not stuck on one built for a site in full use.

Finding the right tariff for an empty property is not always simple, and the lowest headline rate rarely tells the full story. As an energy broker and consultancy, Purely Energy compares tariffs from a range of suppliers to find one that suits a property using very little energy. That means weighing standing charges against unit rates, so you only pay for what you actually need.

If you would like a free quote on your business energy contract, or want to compare the most competitive business energy rates for an empty property, get in touch. For more information, call us on 0161 521 3400 or email info@purelyenergy.co.uk.