Case Study

Supporting a multi-site commercial property portfolio with straightforward, responsive water and energy brokerage.

Managing water and energy across a commercial property portfolio can be complex. Tenants move in and out, responsibility for supplies changes, contracts expire at different times, and routine administration can quickly become time-consuming.

For Catherine, Facilities Manager at Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell, having a trusted broker provides the expertise and guidance needed to navigate water and energy procurement across a changing portfolio.

Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell manages commercial property on behalf of landlords, with approximately 30 active supplies registered directly to landlords, alongside a further 10–12 supplies where tenants have vacated.

In these cases, the landlord temporarily becomes responsible for the supply until a new tenant takes over and the Change of Tenancy (COT) is processed. This creates an environment where effective water and energy management is about much more than simply finding a competitive price.

The challenge of managing utilities across multiple properties

Managing multiple utility supplies brings a significant administrative burden, particularly when properties regularly change occupancy. Supplier communication, billing, account administration and Changes of Tenancy all need to be managed correctly – and when something goes wrong, resolving it can consume valuable time. Speaking specifically about her experience with energy suppliers, Catherine explains:

“The primary issues we face consistently include administrative friction with billing portals, poor communication, and delays in processing Changes of Tenancy (COTs).”

She also highlights the time that can be lost dealing with routine supplier administration:

“We waste significant time dealing with excessive hold times to reach customer service and navigating repetitive GDPR scripting.”

For Facilities Managers responsible for numerous properties, these issues aren’t isolated inconveniences. They can become an ongoing operational challenge.

That’s where having an experienced water and energy broker can make a difference. Brokerage is about more than switching suppliers Finding the right utility solution doesn’t always mean switching to a new supplier.

For Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell, avoiding unnecessary administrative complications is an important consideration alongside price and contract terms. When it comes to energy, the business has recently chosen to renew with incumbent suppliers where appropriate. Catherine explains:

“This approach entirely eliminates the administrative burden of resolving final invoices from outgoing suppliers. It also prevents data flow-form errors and incorrect meter readings during transitions, thereby successfully eliminating subsequent billing disputes.”

This reflects an important part of Wodr’s approach to water and energy brokerage. Our role isn’t simply to recommend a switch. It’s to understand how a customer’s portfolio operates, assess the available options and provide guidance on the approach that makes commercial and operational sense. Sometimes that may mean moving supplier. In other circumstances, remaining with the incumbent may be the better option.

Bringing expertise to property management water and energy procurement

Facilities Managers have a huge range of responsibilities, and they can ‘t be expected to be experts in every aspect of the water and energy markets. Having access to specialist knowledge is therefore an important part of the broker relationship.

As Catherine explains:

“As someone who is not au fait with energy procurement, I must rely entirely on the expertise and professional guidance of a broker.”

For Wodr, that means making complex utility decisions easier to understand and providing customers with clear, practical advice. Catherine particularly values the communication and transparency she receives:

“Highly communicative, always provides prompt answers, and is completely transparent and straight down the line.”

These are principles we aim to deliver across the Wodr team and across both water and energy brokerage (via Utility Stream): responsive communication, specialist knowledge, transparency and straightforward advice.

Supporting a changing commercial property portfolio

Property portfolios aren’t static. Tenants leave, new occupiers arrive and landlords can temporarily become responsible for water and energy supplies during vacant periods. For Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell, this means utility requirements can change throughout the year.

Having a broker that understands this environment provides continuity. Rather than looking at an individual water or energy contract in isolation, we can consider the wider portfolio and help customers navigate procurement and renewals as their requirements evolve.

The value of that relationship isn’t measured solely by a percentage saving. It’ s also about having access to expertise when it’ s needed and a team that understands the complexities involved in managing utilities across multiple commercial properties.

Making commercial utilities simpler for property management teams

At Wodr, we help businesses navigate water procurement with clear advice, responsive service and a focus on finding the right solution for their circumstances.

For property and Facilities Management teams in particular, that means understanding that utility management doesn’t begin and end with securing a contract. From changing occupancies and multiple sites to procurement decisions and renewals, our aim is to make managing commercial water and energy simpler.

Managing water and energy across multiple commercial properties?

Talk to our team today about how our water and energy brokerage team can support your portfolio.