Managing utilities can easily eat into letting agents' time, whether it's managing tenant questions around rising costs or the time-consuming admin. Frequent changes in the energy industry only add to the confusion.
Here's a rundown of some key utility challenges for letting agents, and some potential solutions.
Jump to the section you need solutions for 👇
- Rising energy costs effecting void period bills
- Losing time on manual utility registration
- Final bills and meter reading disputes
- Meeting tenant expectations around broadband access
- The nightmare of organising multiple suppliers and account
1. Rising energy costs effecting void period bills
💪 Challenge: Energy prices change every three months for tenants on the standard variable tariff, and if suppliers aren’t notified of the proper void period, disputes with landlords about liability can become a problem. If suppliers aren’t updated in time, agents can find themselves caught between landlords and tenants over who’s responsible for the charges.
💡 Solution: Start by staying informed—Ofgem’s website offers the latest on energy price caps and helps you explain cost changes clearly to landlords and tenants.
You can also offer tenants peace of mind about their bills with an easy bills service like One Utility Bill. Fixed tariffs mean no surprises about energy costs, and even variable tariffs come with plenty of notice about any price changes.
To reduce your admin and avoid disputes, services like Notify can automatically inform suppliers of move-ins, move-outs, and void periods - saving time and reducing admin with commission too 👀. By adding ‘Care Of’ details you will ensure bills go to the right person at the correct address, helping prevent delays.
👉 Learn more about One Utility Bill
2. Losing time on manual utility registration
💪 Challenge: Contacting every utility supplier for every property is a huge time sink. Wait times with suppliers are unpredictable, and not the most productive way to spend your time. The more properties you manage, the bigger this admin burden becomes.
💡 Solution: Save time with a service that notifies suppliers so you don’t have to. Enter tenant details once for every move in and move out, and the One Utility Bill team will notify suppliers. Sounds good? Our Notify service does exactly this for thousands of agents, saving an average of 56* hours a month. It’s the best-rated utility service on Kerfuffle
*Based on an agent submitting 20 properties per month
3. Final bills and meter reading disputes
💪 Challenge: End-of-tenancy bill disputes and wrong meter readings can slow down deposit returns and cause headaches for everyone involved.
💡 Solution: One simple step is to take clear, time-stamped photos of all meter readings at check-in and check-out. Keeping these saved alongside tenancy records gives you reliable proof if disputes arise—and can speed up the resolution process.
If you want to reduce your admin burden, Notify makes final bills easier to sort by keeping councils and utility suppliers in the loop. Accurate info for each property means accurate meter readings, accurate bills with less fuss and less stress.
4. Meeting tenant expectations around broadband access
💪 Challenge: For many tenants, fast and reliable internet isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially with the rise of remote work and digital-first lifestyles. Tenants increasingly want to know what broadband options are available at a property before they commit. But agents don’t always have that info on hand, and broadband availability varies by location, which can make it hard to guarantee a consistent experience.
💡 Solution: A great first step is to check broadband availability at the property ahead of viewings. It’s a small action that can make a big difference—giving tenants clarity and showing that you’re a proactive, helpful agent. Free online tools can give you this info in seconds.
To take it further, Notify from One Utility Bill offers tenants a simple bills package that includes broadband options from top UK providers, with access to exclusive deals and super-fast speeds. Whether you handle it manually or through Notify, helping tenants get online quickly is an easy way to deliver a better renting experience—and make your job easier in the process.
5. The nightmare of organising multiple suppliers and accounts
💪 Challenge: Every property has an account with the local authority, energy and water suppliers, not to mention broadband and other services. This can be a lot to manage, and falling behind can cause issues with landlords and tenants. Missed payments or incorrect details can mean delays and frustration for all involved. Having all this information stored in one place could be a life saver. That’s where smart integration comes in—streamlining admin before it turns into a headache.
💡 Solution: Integrating Notify with leading CRM systems like Acquaint, Reapit, and SME Professional means every move-in and move-out is automatically tracked, keeping your records accurate without manual updates.
The challenges of managing utilities in 2025 are real—but they don’t have to slow you down. One Utility Bill makes life easier for agents with our Notify service, and for tenants with super easy bills packages. Offer your tenants a better experience by doing less work
By automating registrations with Notify and simplifying billing with One Utility Bill, you can save time, reduce disputes, and keep tenants happy without the admin stress.
Want to learn more? Book a demo below 👇
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