If your B&B relies on oil or LPG, you’ll know how vulnerable that can feel when prices rise or deliveries become uncertain — something we’re experiencing ourselves right now. Unlike mains gas, you can’t simply pay for what you use each month. Oil and LPG usually involve a large upfront payment, and suppliers may struggle to meet demand during busy periods.

That can leave you watching the tank gauge drop while still expected to provide warm rooms and hot showers for guests. It’s a very stressful position to be in, especially when a refill costs thousands or you’re not even sure when a delivery will arrive.

I’m not an energy expert — just someone dealing with this situation right now, albeit in a family home rather than a B&B. We’ve had to turn off the heating and hot water while we wait for an oil delivery, so this post brings together the practical steps we’re taking, the alternatives we’re using and the things worth thinking about if you find yourself in the same situation.

This Is Very Different From Running Out at Home

Running low on fuel at home is stressful enough. Running low when you have paying guests due to arrive — or already staying — is on a completely different level.

You’re not just worrying about being cold yourself. You’re responsible for other people’s comfort, safety and expectations as well as your business.

Your mind is probably racing with questions like:

• How will I keep the rooms warm?
• What about hot water for showers?
• Do I warn guests… or hope a delivery arrives in time?
• What if the boiler stops working altogether?
• Will people complain or leave bad reviews?

It’s a horrible position to be in, and not one most B&B owners ever imagined dealing with when they started out.

There isn’t a perfect solution, but having a rough plan can stop you making rushed decisions in the heat of the moment.

Have a Plan Before You’re Forced Into One

It’s much easier to think this through while you still have time, rather than when you’re staring at the gauge and hoping it lasts another few days.

Once fuel gets very low, every decision suddenly feels urgent and stressful. Having even a rough plan in your head can make a huge difference.

It might be worth deciding in advance:

• At what point you’ll start cutting back on heating
• Which rooms or areas you would prioritise
• What backup heating you could use
• How you would provide hot water if the boiler was off
• Whether you would limit or reduce bookings
• What you would say to guests if needed

You may never have to use this plan — but if you do, you’ll be very glad you thought it through beforehand.

Try Not to Let the System Run Completely Dry

If your delivery won’t arrive in time, it’s usually better to shut the boiler down while some fuel remains.

When oil systems run dry, they can draw sludge and air into the pipework, causing the burner to lock out. LPG systems can also shut down when pressure drops too low.

Even after refilling, the boiler may not restart without getting a boiler engineer in — something we discovered recently when our oil tank unexpectedly ran out.

Luckily the engineer who services our boiler came out very quickly and charged less than £50. If you don’t already have a boiler engineer on speed dial, now might be the perfect time to ask for recommendations in your local community group.

Prioritise What Really Matters

If you still have some fuel left, it’s usually better to use it carefully rather than trying to heat the whole property and running out sooner.

Think about what is genuinely essential, especially if you have guests staying.

Focus on:

• Preventing pipes from freezing (in colder weather)
• Keeping occupied rooms warm and safe
• Protecting the building from damp

Unused rooms may need to stay unheated for a while. 

If possible, consider switching to alternative heating before it becomes absolutely necessary. Using immersion heaters for hot water and oil-filled electric radiators in occupied rooms can help conserve your remaining oil or LPG so it lasts longer.

You’re simply trying to stretch the fuel you have while keeping guests comfortable and the property safe.

Use Alternative Heating Sources

Most rural properties will have at least some backup options. They may not be the cheapest way to heat a building, but right now they may well be cheaper — and more reliable — than oil or LPG.

For the first few years of running our Barn B&B guest room (in a separate annex not connected to the main boiler), we used oil-filled electric radiators with timers and thermostats, plus immersion heating for hot water. It worked perfectly well and guests never complained.

You could use:

• Log burners or open fires
• Oil-filled electric radiators
• Extra bedding and blankets
• Immersion heaters for hot water

If you’re using log burners or open fires — especially ones that haven’t been lit for a while — safety checks are essential. Ensure chimneys have been swept, flues are clear, vents unobstructed, and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

For portable electric heating, check plugs and cables for damage, keep heaters away from bedding and curtains, and be mindful of electrical load in older properties. Also make sure that electrical cables are tidy and don't present a trip hazard.

Make the Most of Cheaper Electricity Where You Can

If you’re on a tariff with cheaper off-peak electricity, it may be worth shifting as much energy use as possible into those hours.

Immersion heaters can often be run overnight to heat water ready for the morning, reducing the need to use oil or LPG during the day.

If hot water is limited, prioritising guest use and showering at quieter times yourself can prevent the tank being emptied all at once.

We’re with Octopus and currently using cheaper overnight rates to heat water and charge our solar batteries for daytime use. That’s helping us keep costs down whilst using electricity to heat water and providing us with a cheaper solution for running heaters during the day if we need them.

Be Honest With Guests

If everything is working normally — rooms are warm, hot water is available and guests wouldn’t notice anything unusual — there may be no need to say anything at all.

If you need to cancel bookings or change arrangements, contact guests as soon as possible. The earlier you let them know, the more options they have and the less stressful it will be for everyone.

If you do have to cancel, it helps enormously to suggest alternative accommodation. Keeping a list of nearby properties that may still be operating — particularly in larger towns with mains gas — shows guests you’re trying to help, not just passing on a problem.

Most guests are very understanding when you explain the situation clearly and show that you’re doing everything you can to minimise disruption.

If you’re using alternative heating, hot water is limited, or you’re asking guests to make small adjustments — such as reusing towels — it’s far better to say so upfront.

Clear communication early on prevents misunderstandings and protects your reputation.

Consider Whether to Reduce Bookings

If fuel supplies are very low — or the cost of refilling is simply unaffordable right now — you may need to think carefully about how many guests you can realistically accommodate.

If alternative heating and hot water are working well, you may still be able to operate comfortably by focusing on rooms that are easiest to heat.

You might decide to:

• Block future dates for now
• Take fewer bookings than usual
• Only let rooms that are simplest to keep warm
• Offer guests the option to move their stay if needed

Reducing capacity is far better than risking guests being uncomfortable.

Pricing and Existing Bookings

If fuel costs suddenly jump, it’s completely understandable to look at your pricing and wonder how you’re supposed to absorb it. Heating is one of the biggest expenses for rural properties, and those costs can rise dramatically at exactly the time of year when income is already lower.

For future bookings, you can review your prices if needed, but it’s worth balancing this carefully against local demand and what similar properties are charging.

Existing bookings are different. Once a booking has been accepted, it is treated as a legally binding contract at the agreed price. Unless your terms and conditions clearly allow for price changes — and guests agreed to those terms when booking — increasing the price afterwards is very likely to cause disputes and could be unlawful.

I’m not a legal expert, but the safest approach is to honour the agreed price and adjust your rates for new bookings instead.

VisitEngland’s accommodation guidance (often referred to as the “Pink Book”) emphasises the importance of clear pricing and fair terms, and is a useful reference point for good practice in the industry.

If you are considering changing your terms and conditions to give yourself more flexibility in future, do seek proper legal advice before doing so. T&Cs need to be fair, transparent and enforceable, and a professional can make sure they genuinely protect you rather than creating new problems. To be honest, most guests don't read T&Cs and price rises after they've booked is something I would personally stay clear of.

You’re Not Alone

Many rural B&B owners face exactly this situation at some point, whether due to price spikes, severe weather or supply disruption.

It can really help to talk to other local businesses and neighbours. They may know which suppliers still have availability, what lead times are like, or whether alternative arrangements are being made in the area.

Some communities organise group orders for oil or LPG, which can sometimes secure a delivery more quickly or reduce the price per litre. Even an informal conversation can uncover options you didn’t know existed.

Planning ahead doesn’t mean you expect the worst. It simply means you’ll be able to act calmly and protect both your property and your business if fuel becomes scarce or unaffordable.

Running a rural B&B often means dealing with challenges that never even occur to businesses in towns and cities, and fuel supply is one of them. It can feel overwhelming when it happens, but there are usually practical steps that will help you get through until things improve. If you’re facing this right now, you’re certainly not alone — and I hope sharing our experience makes it feel a little less daunting.