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Electricity & gas · Ireland
Checked 2026-09-30

🔑 I rent my home in Ireland: who pays for energy and how do I check the service charges?

The short answer

As a tenant you either have your own energy contract or you pay energy through the rent or service charges. The rules on shared meters and yearly statements protect you.

📜 The rules in Ireland

Energy costs for tenants

Irish law does not set who pays energy bills in a private tenancy; your tenancy agreement decides. Your landlord must provide adequate heating and a safe electricity and gas supply. Disputes go to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

  • A landlord may deduct from your deposit only for unpaid utility bills you are responsible for under the lease, besides rent arrears, damage or insufficient notice. Take final meter readings when you move out. (rtb.ie)
  • Tenants do not need landlord permission to sign up for a smart Pay As You Go tariff; for a traditional prepay meter the supplier keeps a record of the landlord's permission. (cru.ie)
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)Dispute resolution between tenants and landlords, including unpaid bills and deposits.🔗 rtb.ie
Official source: rtb.ie · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Find out how you payYour own contract with a supplier, or energy through the landlord? Your tenancy agreement says so.
  2. Ask for the statementIf the landlord charges energy or heating, ask for the yearly statement and how your share is worked out.
  3. Check the rules for IrelandSee below what landlords must do on meters, cost splitting and statements.
  4. Dispute in writingWrite to the landlord with your questions. If there is no solution, go to the body named below.

📇 Who to contact

Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)Dispute resolution between tenants and landlords, including unpaid bills and deposits.🔗 rtb.ie
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)Independent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 www.ccpc.ie

❓ Questions

Can I choose my own supplier as a tenant?

If you have your own meter and contract, usually yes. If energy is in the rent, the landlord chooses.

How is heating split between flats?

Often by individual meters or heat cost allocators plus a fixed share. The rules for Ireland are on this page.

Can the landlord cut my energy?

A landlord may not simply cut your supply. Contact the body named on this page.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🌡️District heating, oil and LPG→📦Moving house→🧾Wrong or high bill→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

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