According to property press reports, the number of "bills included" private rented tenancies currently being offered by landlords has dropped off a cliff due to the energy price rise chaos the country is experiencing right now.

The number of bills included tenancies on offer is reported as being 90% lower in July 2022 than in January 2022.

Property platform Vouch processes over 10,000 tenancies a month for tenants and its chief executive, Simon Tillyer is quoted in Property Investor Post as saying "With so much uncertainty around just how high [energy] costs will go over the next six months, I'm not surprised "bills included" tenancies have pretty much disappeared. Tenants and landlords are grappling with a new rental landscape and we're seeing patterns of behaviour shift accordingly."

Meanwhile, Property Investor Post also reports that tenant internet searches for "bills included" tenancies has increased from 60% in 2019 to 77% according to research by letting and estate agents Chestertons. And according to Rightmove, "bills included" is now the top internet search term used on their platform by people looking to rent a new home that they can afford.

It looks like until some certainty on support for households is provided by the new Prime Minister this mismatch will continue.