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OVO Energy Live Billing

OVO Energy is introducing Live Billing for long-term vacant properties. If a property remains void for more than 90 consecutive days, monthly energy bills will now be issued for the duration of the void period.

Properties vacant for fewer than 90 days are not affected and will continue to receive a single bill once a tenant moves in. This change takes effect from April 2026 and applies to all properties supplied by OVO Energy that are registered as void through the Helpthemove Portal.

 

OVO Energy is making this change to:

  • Maintain regulatory compliance around void property billing
  • Ensure consistent financial management of long-term vacant properties
  • Avoid large, unexpected accumulated bills at the end of extended void periods

The total cost of energy during a void period remains unchanged - only the timing of how bills are issued is affected.

 

When does monthly billing begin?

Monthly billing begins once a property has been continuously void for 90 days. The first invoice will cover the full 90-day period. After that, invoices are issued monthly until a new tenancy is confirmed.

 

What will landlords be billed for?

Bills will include the daily standing charge and any energy consumed at the property during the void period. As usual, landlords benefit from up to 30 days of standing charge and a £15 credit per meter before any charges become payable.

Click here for more information on our landlord benefits

 

Will landlords receive estimated bills?

Yes, if no meter readings are provided, OVO will issue estimated bills. Estimated readings for void properties can be higher than actual usage. To avoid this, meter readings should be submitted directly to OVO regularly.

•     Submit a meter reading to OVO directly when a property reaches 90 days void

•     Submit regular readings to OVO directly during extended void periods

 

Can I submit regular meter readings through Helpthemove?

Not yet, but this is something we are working on in line with the changes to OVO’s billing processes and we will update you when this feature becomes active.

 

When do bills need to be paid?

All bills issued under the new process are due to be paid within 14 days of issue. If payment is not received, OVO may contact the landlord directly and could escalate the account to collections.

 

What happens at the end of the void period?

When a new tenancy begins and is submitted through the Helpthemove portal, OVO will issue a final closing bill for the void period and the account will transfer to the new tenant.

 

Does this affect short-term voids?

No. Properties that are vacant for fewer than 90 consecutive days are not affected. A single bill will continue to be issued once a new tenancy begins, as before.

 

Can bills still be disputed or queried?

Yes. The process for querying bills has not changed. Please contact OVO Billing directly, using the details listed on the bill, or if you need additional assistance or oversight from Helpthemove please contact us directly with a copy of the bill to support@helpthemove.co.uk.

 

To minimise disruption and avoid unexpected charges, please take the following steps:

•     Check that all properties currently marked as void on your Helpthemove account are accurate (i.e. still vacant) - update any that are incorrect where you know a tenancy has begun or is due to begin

•     Submit new tenancy information promptly to close void periods accurately and prevent inaccurate billing

•     Provide a meter reading on your Helpthemove account against the relevant property. When a property reaches 90 days void, continue to submit readings regularly to ensure billing is as accurate as possible

•     Update your Helpthemove account with any properties you no longer manage, logging the date you stopped managing them and any relevant future billing details for the landlord to ensure accuracy

•     Notify the Helpthemove team of any properties where you anticipate a longer void period so that we can provide you with helpful advice to best manage this long-term void

 

Benefits of this process

Although this represents a change to current billing arrangements, Live Billing offers a number of practical benefits for landlords and agents:

  • Clearer visibility of energy costs during extended void periods
  • More predictable budgeting and cashflow management
  • Significantly reduced risk of large, accumulated bills at the end of longer vacancies
  • Regular billing creates a clear audit trail for each void period

 

Need help?

If you have questions about how this change affects a specific property, or if you need to update void information, please contact OVO Energy directly using the number on the bill - or the Helpthemove Customer Support team:

📞 0161 399 0247

📧 support@helpthemove.co.uk

Our team will triage your query and liaise directly with OVO Energy where required, but you may find it useful to contact OVO Energy directly if you need to discuss account details.