How do you change the name on a TNB electricity account in Malaysia?
Use the TNB Change of Tenancy process through the myTNB portal or at Kedai Tenaga: submit the signed application form, IC copy and current TNB Declaration Form, pay the deposit (based on two months' estimated usage), RM10 stamp duty and the processing fee, then record the meter reading on handover day. The new account is not in the tenant's name until TNB confirms the transfer, so do not hand over keys assuming the form alone is enough.
This is the most common electricity-account step in Malaysian rentals. Whether you spell it tukar nama TNB, change of tenancy, or transfer electricity bill to tenant, the answer is the same official TNB process. Getting the name change right at move-in removes the most common dispute at move-out: who owned the bill when the keys changed hands.
For the broader picture of how electricity, water, sewerage and internet accounts interact with landlord and tenant responsibility, see the managing utility bills guide. The step-by-step TNB form walkthrough lives in the TNB Change of Tenancy guide, and a full where to rent in Malaysia overview helps when you are choosing the unit in the first place.
What does "tukar nama TNB" actually change?
The name change transfers the registered TNB account holder from the landlord (or previous tenant) to the new person responsible for the unit, so TNB bills, deposits and account enquiries go to the right party. It does not change the meter, the wiring, the supply or the unit's physical connection.
| What changes at TNB | What stays the same |
|---|---|
| Registered account holder name | Meter number and physical meter |
| IC on the TNB account | Premise address |
| Who TNB contacts for unpaid bills | Electricity supply and tariff category |
| Who pays the deposit and processing fee | The unit's wiring and meter board |
| Who can request reconnection or closure | TNB premise type (low/medium/high voltage) |
If you are changing the name because a new tenant just moved in, you are doing a Change of Tenancy. If you are changing the name because the landlord or homeowner is taking the account back after a tenancy ended, it is still the same Change of Tenancy form, just in the opposite direction.
Which form does TNB use for the name change in 2026?
TNB uses the Change of Tenancy application form together with the 2025 Declaration Form, available through the myTNB portal and at Kedai Tenaga. Use the current version, not a saved PDF from an older tenancy.
The flow is:
- Decide whether the new account holder will be the tenant or the landlord. Most rentals run cleaner when the tenant is the registered account holder.
- Download or collect the Change of Tenancy form and the current Declaration Form from myTNB or Kedai Tenaga.
- Complete and sign both forms. The premise address and meter number must match the tenancy agreement.
- Attach an IC copy for the new account holder with "For TNB Purpose Only" written across it.
- Submit online through myTNB where the option is available, or attend Kedai Tenaga nearest to the rented premises.
- Pay the deposit, RM10 stamp duty and the processing fee (RM3.00 for most residential units, RM80.00 for medium or high voltage).
- Wait for TNB to issue the new account number. The change is only complete when TNB confirms it.
Do not hand over keys on a verbal promise to "tukar nama TNB nanti" (later). If the form is delayed, record the meter reading at the move-in moment so there is no dispute about which tenant used how much electricity.
What documents and fees are required?
The required items are the signed application form, IC copy, current Declaration Form, deposit (based on two months' estimated usage), RM10 stamp duty and the processing fee. TNB does not publish a single fixed RM figure for the residential deposit because the amount depends on the premise's estimated usage.
| Item | What to prepare | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Application form | Completed and signed TNB Change of Tenancy form | Match the premise address and account number exactly |
| IC copy | Copy of the new account holder's IC, marked "For TNB Purpose Only" | Do not send unmarked IC copies over chat groups |
| Declaration Form | TNB Declaration Form, 2025 version | Use the current version; do not reuse an old saved PDF |
| Deposit | Two months' estimated electricity usage for the premise | TNB sets the amount for your specific unit; confirm via myTNB |
| Stamp duty | RM10 | Keep the receipt with the tenancy file |
| Processing fee | RM3.00 (low voltage, most residential units) or RM80.00 (medium/high voltage) | Check the TNB premise type if unsure |
If you cannot find the existing account number, the previous bill or the myTNB app usually shows it. For older accounts where the previous holder has left, Kedai Tenaga can trace the premise by address and meter number.
Who should the new account holder be, the landlord or the tenant?
In most ordinary rentals, putting the account in the tenant's name is cleaner because the person using the electricity is also the person TNB deals with. The landlord gives up some direct control over the account, but the tenancy agreement and the move-in and move-out meter readings carry the protection.
| Account setup after name change | Who TNB contacts first | Main exposure | What to write in the tenancy file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenant is the new account holder | Tenant | Tenant must close or settle final bill on move-out | Tenant pays usage from move-in meter reading; provides final bill proof |
| Landlord stays as account holder | Landlord | Tenant uses electricity but landlord stays exposed | Tenant reimburses actual bills monthly with transfer proof |
| Transfer delayed | Depends on account name during the gap | Move-in usage disputed | Meter reading at handover decides the split |
| Tenant moves out | Account holder at the time | Final bill arrives after keys returned | Deposit reconciliation waits for the official final bill |
For landlords managing several units, keeping accounts in tenant names is the safer default at scale. The tenancy agreement, meter photos and the TNB receipt together form the audit trail if a dispute ever arises.
Browse Malaysian rental listings and check the move-in terms before paying anything, so the TNB name change decision lines up with the tenancy agreement from day one.
What should landlord and tenant record at move-in and move-out?
A dated meter photo, the new TNB account number, the signed tenancy agreement and the deposit and processing-fee receipts. Without these, a later dispute about the bill becomes memory versus memory.
Take a meter photo before the tenant starts using the unit, and again before accepting key return. Write the date and time on the photo or save it in a folder named with the handover date. If the final TNB bill has not arrived by move-out, state in writing that the deposit will be reconciled once the official final bill is issued.
Both parties should keep the same set of documents. The tenant needs them to prove what they owed; the landlord needs them to prove what was used and when. Where the landlord uses SPEEDHOME, the platform already stores the tenancy agreement and key handover record; the TNB documents sit alongside that file.
Where does Zero Deposit fit in this process?
Zero Deposit replaces the upfront cash rental security deposit. It is a managed rental-risk system, not a financial guarantee product, and it does not replace the TNB utility deposit that the tenant pays directly to TNB. Those are two separate move-in costs run by two separate parties.
The rental deposit (or Zero Deposit on SPEEDHOME) protects the landlord against rent arrears and damage. The TNB deposit is paid to TNB by the tenant as the new account holder, secures the electricity account, and is refundable from TNB when the account closes cleanly. The tenancy agreement should make the split explicit so the tenant is not surprised by a separate TNB deposit on top of their rental deposit.
For end-of-tenancy damage that is more than fair wear and tear, the standard SPEEDHOME protection claims process applies. Severe damage handling is part of the SPEEDHOME tenancy agreement, not the TNB account.
FAQ
How long does a TNB name change take in Malaysia?
Most myTNB Change of Tenancy cases are processed within a few working days when documents and payment are complete. Kedai Tenaga cases that need manual verification can take longer. Confirm the new account number with TNB before relying on the change being done.
Can the tenant do the TNB name change online by themselves?
Yes, where the myTNB online Change of Tenancy option is available, the tenant can submit the form, Declaration Form and IC copy and pay the deposit and fees online. Kedai Tenaga is the fallback for cases that need counter service or document checking.
How much is the TNB deposit when changing the account name?
TNB calculates the deposit based on two months' estimated electricity usage at the premise. There is no single fixed RM figure for every unit. Confirm the exact amount with myTNB or Kedai Tenaga for your specific address before paying.
Does the TNB name change require a stamped tenancy agreement?
TNB does not require the tenancy agreement to be stamped as part of the Change of Tenancy submission, but the tenancy agreement should be stamped within 30 days of signing under the Finance Act 2024 stamp-duty scale for your own legal protection. Keep the stamped agreement with the rest of the TNB file.
What if the tenant moves out without settling the final TNB bill?
TNB first deals with the registered account holder, which is why the account name matters. If the tenant is still the account holder at move-out, TNB will chase the tenant. The landlord can support recovery through the tenancy agreement terms, not through TNB. This is the strongest reason to handle the name change on day one of the tenancy rather than at the end.
Can the landlord change the TNB name back to themselves after the tenant leaves?
Yes, by submitting another Change of Tenancy with the tenant's cooperation, or by closing the tenant's account and reopening one in the landlord's name at Kedai Tenaga. Recording the final meter reading and the tenant's final bill proof before the keys come back makes this step clean.