Tenant refuses to pay for electricity: what to do?
Formal notice, security deposit withholding, collection procedure: here are the concrete remedies against a tenant who won't pay for energy. And above all, the solution that eliminates 100% of the risk: prepayment.
Why unpaid electricity bills are exploding in short-term rentals
A tenant who refuses to settle their electricity bill upon departure has become a common situation in furnished tourist rentals. You send a detailed statement after checkout, backed by meter readings, and in return you get silence, a vague dispute, or worse, a flat refusal. The guest believes energy was included in the nightly price, despite your terms and conditions.
The phenomenon is worsening with rising rates: since 2023, the price per kWh has jumped more than 40% in France, and exceptional consumption (air conditioning in summer, electric heating in winter) generates bills of $150 to $400 for a single week's stay. Field feedback from owners we support shows that one in five energy disputes ends without payment, due to a lack of real leverage.
The good news: the law protects you. The French law article 23-1 of law 89-462 authorizes rebilling energy in furnished rentals, and the Civil Code opens several avenues of recourse. The best news: there is a simple way to completely eliminate the risk upstream, without a lawyer or reminders. Here's how.
The 3 steps of recourse against a non-paying tenant
A graduated method, from dialogue to legal proceedings
Written friendly reminder
Send a first reminder by email with the detailed statement (meter readings, applied rate, period). Allow 8 business days. About 40% of tenants pay up at this stage without conflict.
Formal notice by registered mail
If silence persists, send a formal notice by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. It sets a 15-day deadline and officially triggers statutory late-payment interest (5.07% in 2026).
Payment order
Without a response, file with the civil court for a payment order. Cost: about $35. Average time: 6 to 10 weeks. An enforceable order allowing bank account garnishment.
Your rights when facing unpaid electricity in furnished rentals
The legal foundations that secure your rebilling
The French law article 23-1 of law 89-462
This text expressly authorizes the landlord of a furnished rental to rebill electricity charges at actual cost, provided the principle is included in the contract and the calculation methods are transparent and supported by meter readings.
Withholding from security deposit
If you have collected a security deposit (Airbnb AirCover, direct deposit), you can deduct the amount of unpaid consumption from it within 2 months after departure, provided you supply the supporting documents (timestamped readings).
Proof by smart meter
A court requires solid evidence: timestamped readings, consumption curves, contractual rate. A connected meter automatically generates these elements and makes your case nearly airtight in the event of a dispute.
Why prepayment solves the problem for good
The only system that makes unpaid bills mathematically impossible
No bill, no refusal
The tenant pays before consuming, or through the nightly price with an included allowance. There's never a statement to send after the fact, never an awkward conversation, never a dispute. The conflict simply doesn't exist.
Zero procedure, zero lawyer
No more formal notices, payment orders, or bailiff fees. You save an average of 3 to 6 administrative hours per dispute avoided, and you preserve your guest rating by avoiding negative reviews tied to surprise bills.
Consumption reduced by 25 to 30%
A tenant who sees their balance live on a tablet naturally manages their usage: air conditioning off when leaving, heating regulated, lights turned off. Consumer behavior studies confirm this spontaneous drop without imposed constraints.
Permanent, automatic proof
Every kWh is timestamped, every payment is tracked, every session is archived. In case of a tax audit, guest complaint, or Airbnb dispute, you produce a rock-solid file in three clicks. Transparency defuses 100% of tensions.
Real case: Paris host facing $340 in unpaid electricity after a heatwave
How prepayment transformed the situation in 3 weeks
Before: actual-cost billing after the stay
- • 7-night stay in August, air conditioning running 24/7, consumption of 890 kWh or about $340
- • Statement sent to guest: flat refusal, 'electricity was included'
- • Formal notice, tense exchanges, 3-star review in retaliation on the platform
-$130
Net loss after proceedings
After: prepayment with included allowance
- • Allowance of 50 kWh included per night in the price, beyond that one-click recharge on the tablet
- • Guest informed at booking, no surprise, full transparency
- • Consumption reduced to 620 kWh over 7 nights, of which 270 kWh paid directly
+100%
Unpaid bills avoided and peace of mind restored
Frequently asked questions about unpaid electricity in rentals
Everything you need to know before starting a procedure
Can an Airbnb tenant really refuse to pay for their electricity consumption?
How can I prove the exact consumption of a non-paying tenant?
Can I withhold the Airbnb security deposit to cover unpaid electricity?
How much does a payment order against a tenant cost?
Can an international tenant be sued for unpaid energy?
How does prepayment actually work to avoid unpaid bills?
Is electricity prepayment legal in furnished tourist rentals?
How much does an anti-unpaid-bill system cost to install and what's the return on investment?
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Prepaid electricity for rentals
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Ready to never chase an unpaid electricity bill again?
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