reconnecting gas,electricity and water

james007ago

Hi there,
Basically, we are FTB who are moving to the property we bought in 2-3weeks time. I assumed that the seller will disconnect water, electricity and gas when he is leaving. Does any body here knows how much will I be charge when I reconnect them and who shall I call? Any money saving tips as well are gratefully welcome!
Thanks!

BeauBelle

Hi
If the person you are buying from is currently living in the property with all services connected then he will just tell them the final meter reading on the day of moving out. In my experience when we have moved in we contact the supplier that we want and give the meter reading and its all sorted.

I think you only have to pay to be connected if the property has not been lived in for a long time and has no meter etc. The charge would be for the meter to be installed (correct me if I'm wrong anyone!!)

We have never been charged by a utility company when we have moved in, just read the meter and off we go.

Good Luck with your move!

Kate

Fire_Fox

james007ago wrote: »

Hi there,
Basically, we are FTB who are moving to the property we bought in 2-3weeks time. I assumed that the seller will disconnect water, electricity and gas when he is leaving. Does any body here knows how much will I be charge when I reconnect them and who shall I call? Any money saving tips as well are gratefully welcome!
Thanks!

The utilities don't get disconnected any more than they get disconnected when you move into a rental property. The vendor takes final meter readings on their last day and passes these to the supplier who raises a final bill. The purchaser also take meter readings on their first day and passes these to the supplier who opens a new account. As new occupier you are automatically entered into a 'deemed contract' with the existing supplier the second you start using power/ water.

DVardysShadow

Don't forget to take opening readings on all meters and keep them safely.

james007ago

Thanks for your replies.
What if I will choose another supplier that is cheaper? Can I do that?

Fire_Fox

"As new occupier you are automatically entered into a 'deemed contract' with the existing supplier the second you start using power/ water." If you want to start the switching process to a new energy supplier the minute your account is opened you are at liberty to do so, but that will take around six weeks to complete. You don't have the option of switching water supplier, only getting a meter installed if there is none (highly recommended).

f-t-b

sorry for just hijacking the thread but I have the same kind of questions as I am moving in 2 weeks. I presume that if there is already a BT line in the new place all I will need to do is contact BT? Also just abit baffled about my sky, I currently have sky and then my broadband through bulldog in my rented property. I wand to combine the sky, phone and broadband to sky when I move. How does this work, skys website says you need to have a BT landline in order to proceed with the phone through them but surely if I contact BT on the day I move they will presumably start a new contract with me meaning I then cannot move to sky? Hopefully someone can help...

Fire_Fox

The landline will no longer make outgoing calls as soon as the the old occupant vacates, tho you should still have a dialling tone on the line. You need to find out what the landline number is, either from the current owner which is quickest, or by calling 17070 (I think, check this) from the house itself. This will work providing there is a dialling tone.

Then go via a cashback site and instruct PlusNet to reconnect the landline as they don't have a contract requirement like BT does. Leave your phone package with PlusNet until you have sorted the broadband and your cashback is payable, then switch everything to Sky. Do you even have a Sky dish at the new house? It takes a couple of weeks after the phone line is activated to get broadband, possibly longer if you need a dish.

jrrowleyws

Fire_Fox wrote: »

The landline will no longer make outgoing calls as soon as the the old occupant vacates, tho you should still have a dialling tone on the line. You need to find out what the landline number is, either from the current owner which is quickest,

Wouldnt bank on that, many people take their landline number with them and when you call BT to setup the line they ask if you have any number preference.

I thought the landline had to be active with BT before you can switch to anyone else, ie, you need an account with BT in your name!

Fire_Fox

Fair point about the vendors porting the number, you'd probably need to go the 17070 route. You definitely do not need a BT account before you can switch, you need a live landline - live meaning there is a dialling tone not a contract. BT only physically cut off (no dialling tone) your landline if they need to reuse that line at a busy exchange.

BT charge the man on the street £100+ reconnection fee regardless of whether they need to physically reconnect a completely dead line, or they are simply starting up a new contact on a live line. BT charge the cheapo companies £100+ to reactivate a dead line, but BT don't (?can't) charge them to set up a live line as they is no work involved.

Therefore some of the cheapo companies are reluctant to take on a property with a dead line, but will take on one with a live line and known number. PlusNet (a sister company to BT anyway) most definitely does as I used this route successfully at the end of last year. I did the entire transaction online, got my £30 cashback, no contract landline and one year contract for cheap broadband. AFAIK you don't have to take the broadband with the phone.

poppysarah

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Don't forget to take opening readings on all meters and keep them safely.

Don't forget to take photos of meter readings at where you're leaving if you're responsible for bills there too.