New House - First Tasks...

slicksurf

Hi,

I've just bought a new house as a first time buyer. Now, I notice lots of guides on buying a selling etc... but can someone do a list of what needs to be sorted out after purchase. I dont mean physically with the house, obviously that depends on the house bought. However I am referring to things like telling:-
Electricity People - Done (its prepay)
Gas People - Done (Its prepay too)
Water - Is this the same as above? I don't want a meter and its a rated house, so when they set me up will I have to have a meter?
TV - Do I have to get a license yet, there is quite some work to do before moving in.
Council Tax - Do I tell them, or will the bill me automatically?
Insurance - Sorted with bank
Council - Do they supply bags, bins etc? (Birmingham Area)
Is there anything else I may have forgotten. I'd rather get everything in order and under control now, than to backpay later.

Any thoughts would be nice.

happytails

slicksurf wrote: »

Water - Is this the same as above? I don't want a meter and its a rated house, so when they set me up will I have to have a meter?
TV - Do I have to get a license yet, there is quite some work to do before moving in.
Council Tax - Do I tell them, or will the bill me automatically?
Council - Do they supply bags, bins etc? (Birmingham Area)

Hi

I would call united utilities (or whoever it is) and inform them of your moving in date, along with the council. Also id call the council and explain you will need your rubbish/recycling bins sorted.

Another one is to redirect your mail from where you used to live

Sarah

G_M

slicksurf wrote: »

Hi,

I've just bought a new house as a first time buyer. Now, I notice lots of guides on buying a selling etc... but can someone do a list of what needs to be sorted out after purchase. I dont mean physically with the house, obviously that depends on the house bought. However I am referring to things like telling:-
Electricity People - Done (its prepay)
Gas People - Done (Its prepay too)
Water - Is this the same as above? No I don't want a meter and its a rated house, so when they set me up will I have to have a meter?If there's a meter, you keep it. If not, you can choose
TV - Do I have to get a license yet, there is quite some work to do before moving in.When you have a TV there, you need a licence
Council Tax - Do I tell them, or will the bill me automatically? No - how would they know to bill you?
Insurance - Sorted with bank
Council - Do they supply bags, bins etc? (Birmingham Area)Why not ask them?
Is there anything else I may have forgotten.
Yup! Lots! I'd rather get everything in order and under control now, than to backpay later.

Any thoughts would be nice.

EVERYone needs your new address - your bank, your credit card, your employer, your auntie, the companies you hold shares in, your car insurer............
New phone line?

and that's just a start. Try googling 'house move'!

slicksurf

Thanks for the info, with respect to council tax, I've never paid that. I live in the family home (so someone else pays it) and stuff like banks etc can wait, I'll still be living there till the house is done up, so wont be visiting as frequently (dont want to miss post).
Last Q, with respect to TV license, will they try and argue payment from date of move putting the onus on me to prove otherwise?

david29dpo

Most likely, yes. The TV people assume everyone has a tele and the harassment from them can get quite bad. However if you have no tele just ignore any letters you have from them. I did. The onus is on them, not you. You dont have to let anyone in ether. Just buy one when you move in.

lonestar1

dont stay on the prepay for gas/electric its the most expensive way to buy it

Doozergirl

Agree that you should make arrangements to have those meters changed to normal billing as the meters are very expensive.

You will need to get yourself on to the electoral roll as well. When you initially contact the council, you should be entitled to 0 rate council tax if the place is empty and unfurnished for up to six months (this six months does include any empty period from previous owners). When you call again to tell them that you have moved in, ask them about getting your name on the electoral roll - they should be able to help by sending a form for you to fill in.

Fire_Fox

If you are not living in the house and it isn't furnished/ occupied I would write to both council tax and TV licensing informing them of that fact.You must also inform the insurance provider that the property is not occupied.

If you are intending to live alone in your new house, it is likely to be much cheaper to have a water meter fitted - we pay £80 a year between two of us in a two bedroom flat! Try to get on a 'no standing charge' tariff for gas and electricity whilst the place is empty: also look at switching supplier/ getting rid of the prepay ASAP.

4Chickens

My advice would be to KEEP all the paperwork pertaining to the purchase of your house. For example: Land Registry documents. Seller's information. Basically, anything you received from your solicitors. Why? It will come in real handy when you come to sell, potentially cutting down on your buyer's enquiries. I did that with the property I just sold but had forgotton that I had kept everything, it would have speeded up the sale. I have filed all the relevant paperwork for this house now and will update it as and when we have any work done. For example, we have just had some electrical work done that will have a certificate of compliance issued (very important when selling). We are also planning a block paved driveway that should come with a guarantee.
Anyway good luck in your new home.

slicksurf

Thank you all for your help. I will tell the council where I stand with the house and see what they say, its over £1000 for my property. Sounds like I better do the same with the TV folk. There is a sky box and dish, but no TV. Not sure if it works either. The previous owner died, and I took over possesion of whats leftover. Very weird first house buying experience. In any case, I better let TV people know.


With respect to paperwork, sounds like a easy enough idea. I have every last sheet of paper from the very beginning to the end from all parties involved, so may well be usefull another day.

PasturesNew

A TV licence is on a whole month basis, so don't go getting one at the end of a month, hold out and get one on the 1st. If you buy a licence on the 29th of a month you're only going to get 11 months and 2 days worth out of it.