A new serviced designed to make the handling of bills during void periods simpler for agents, whilst unlocking new efficiencies for tenants and landlords  has been launched by Vouch.

The RentTech platform says the new void management service will help ensure bills are in the right name at the right time. The aim is to reduce admin for letting agents and ensure all information is easy to access. It is also designed to minimise billing errors for tenants and make sure landlords have all in order during void periods.

Once a tenant moves out of a property, the void management service can automatically alert water and energy, as well as the council, about the transition and ensure billing information is up-to-date. This could involve switching responsibility for bills to the landlord, or to agents if handling payments directly is part of their service offering.

The service also includes the switching of the property’s energy supplier to Vouch partner OVO Energy. This ensures metre readings can be automated. It also offers new revenue generation opportunities for agents in the form of a commission for every tenant that chooses OVO energy.

For properties taking advantage of the Vouch void management service, agents can access bill credits up to £57 for a property with gas and electricity.

Agents are also given access to a bespoke Vouch dashboard where all property billing information is held in one place.

For tenants, the service is designed to make their move-in process simpler. For tenants moving into properties covered by the void management services, they will be given access to the Tili home move assistant tool, making it possible to sort out their bills (including council tax, water, energy and broadband).

Rik Smith, director of tenant services, said: “This is a great example of a tech-led service that brings benefits to the whole rental ecosystem. Void periods fluctuate – that means it’s essential to have a dynamic and easy way of handling switching, billing, and management. Void management reduces admin, opens up revenue opportunities, and reduces the risk of human error. We hope this takes a lot of the stress away from bills and makes any void periods that much easier to navigate for all involved.”