Utilities and meters in a void

The short answer

At the end of a tenancy take a photographed meter reading, close the tenant's account and open one in the owner's name for the void. Standing charges continue even with no usage, so a long void carries a real utility cost. Prepayment meters need enough credit for heating and lighting during works, and can often be switched to credit mode between tenancies.

What the work involves

Photographing meters at check-out and check-in, notifying suppliers, setting up a void account, and giving the incoming tenant readings and supplier details.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

Water and sewerage charges for a household in Scotland are collected with council tax rather than separately, so an empty property's water position follows its council tax position.

What commonly goes wrong

Leaving the outgoing tenant's account running, and losing the ability to prove usage because no photographed reading was taken.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Standing charges accrue on gas and electricity through the whole void regardless of usage.
• Heating during works or drying out is a genuine void cost worth budgeting for.
• Switching a prepayment meter to credit between tenancies can reduce unit rates.

What to do, in order

1. 1Photograph every meter at check-out with the date visible.
2. 2Notify suppliers of the change and open a void account in the owner's name.
3. 3Keep enough supply available for heating, drying and works.
4. 4Photograph readings again at check-in.
5. 5Give the incoming tenant the supplier details and readings in writing.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Many Edinburgh tenement flats have meters in a shared stair cupboard, so record which meter serves which flat.
• Older flats sometimes retain unlabelled meters, and mis-assignment causes long billing disputes.
• Water and sewerage sit within the council tax bill in Scotland, unlike the position in England.

When you need a professional

A letting agent will normally handle supplier notifications as part of the changeover.

Common questions

Who pays utilities during a void?

The owner, from the date the tenancy ends. Standing charges apply even where nothing is used.

How is water charged in Scotland?

Household water and sewerage charges are collected with council tax rather than billed separately by the supplier.

Related pages

• Council tax on an empty home

  Exemptions, discounts and the empty homes premium across the Lothian councils.

• Winterising an empty property

  Heating, draining down and frost protection through a Scottish winter.

• Void timeline and budget

  Planning the turnaround so the property is not empty longer, or more expensively, than it needs to be.