On completion - utilities.

Barter

Our daughter is about to complete on 1st house. It is an executer sale, so empty now, but the electric, gas & phone are all still connected & working.

Does she have to take over with the same providers initially? I'm sure they'll not be the most cost-effective, but I don't see how she could start up with anyone else, even if we knew roughly what consumption would be.

Once 'signed on' in her name, is there a minimum period before she could change to a better deal? I have it in the back of my mind that BT tie in for 3 months - is that right?

Thanks for any info.

silvercar

Don't think there is any obligation to take on old suppliers. contact the new suppliers and they should help set everything up.

For phones cable companies will install extensions at the time you take a new contract.

silvercar

Why would an executor sale make it a new build?

Your solicitor should be able to obtain copies of previous bills, or failing that phone the old suppliers and ask them for serial numbers.

Barter

Yes, perhaps I didn't make my original post clear enough, it isn't a new build.

I'm sure they can reconnect to the current suppliers, but don't know how long they'd be tied in to a, potentially uneconomic, supply.

I don't see an easy way to change to a new provider who would do a better deal, from the outset.

For example, I'm sure the phone will be with BT. Presumably that can be transferred to them on the day of completion, but if they wanted to change to, say, TalkTalk, I don't see they can do that without spending some time, (& some money!) with BT.

Does everybody, or at least all FTB's, take on the suppliers that the previous owners were contracted to?

silvercar

when we moved to our current house we started a contract with ntl and never took over the bt line of the previous occupiers. If our current move goes ahead we are effectively taking our current gas and electrical suppliers with us. we will sign up to sky as new customers (again!) even though we and our sellers have sky.
water rates the solicitors will sort out.

safesound

Thoretically the executors should have told the utils that they had sold the property effective as of X date (they dont want the estate to be liable for any more than they have to), so all your daughter needs to do is call (using your example) the TalkTalk sales line and tell them she's just moved in and could they set up an account for her. Its really easy. I pesume the gas/elec should work the same way (I used the companies already supplying my new home as they were the same I was using in previous property except BT but I cant get NTL here unfortunately).

sharon