Starting from scratch: gas elec, water, council tax, Sky, etc!

ClaraHelt

Hi! For the first time in my life (I've always rented a room in a house before, with all the bills included in my monthly rent) I'm going to be renting an apartment on my own - and therefore having responsibility for setting up the utilities, council tax, and so on.

I have no idea how I go about doing this! I'd really appreciate some good idiot-proof guides/advice/tips. How do I register for council tax payments? How do I ensure the previous tenant has 'cleared' their costs before I move in?

I understand some energy providers give you an 'average' bill each month versus what you've actually used .. I don't think I want that; how do I just pay for what I've used?

Sorry these are basic questions but I really haven't done this before and friends/colleagues/family are giving me mixed advice which I'm not sure is completely up to date or the best route for my circumstances ...

Thank you very much!
Clara

daveboy

For council tax you can simply go in to the local offices of the authority area you live in, failing that there will be a phone number you can ring. I think what will happen is that they will send a form in the post for you to fill in.....also, make sure that, if you are living on your own in a property, you get the 25% reduction - this may well be another thing you have to fill in and sign.

For utilities, simply find the usually national number and explain to them you have moved to a new address. Make sure before you do this, that you have meter readings, definitely for electricity and gas, and also for water if where you're living happens to have a meter you can read. Most properties don't as it is under a metal cover in the street but more and more places do have them.

Anything that may come from the council about previous occupants debts have no affect on you. They will not affect your credit rating. You can of course tell the council they are not there but that is your decision.

It is the same for Sky. If you are moving and don't have a dish, you are literally starting from scratch. It'll be a brand new account and will also be a new contract, which unless I am mistaken is 18 months now. So ensure you will have the money to pay for it.....as many people on this site have fallen on hard times, and paying for the Sky becomes a headache.

As long as you give utility companies regular meter readings, your bills will be accurate. They only use estimated readings if they don't get updated...so it helps to read them every so often, that way you avoid suddenly being hit with a big bill if your payments haven't been keeping up with your usage.

Additionally, pay for everything by direct debit, as you will quite likely incur charges from Sky if you don't. It also helps with utilities too.

It isn't that hard to set things up, just means making a handful of phone calls. But it will be a shock to the system and be costly compared to what you are used to. If I was you I'd wait and see how I managed before I had Sky. But it is of course your choice as I don't know your financial position.

Hope this helps. You are welcome to message me if you want.

Premier_2

ClaraHelt wrote: »

...I understand some energy providers give you an 'average' bill each month versus what you've actually used .. I don't think I want that; how do I just pay for what I've used?...

When you move in, take meter readings and contact the energy supplier(s) with them.
They will set up account(s) for you.
Assuming you don't have prepayment meters fitted, tell them you wish to pay on receipt of bill.

ClaraHelt

Thank you very much for taking the time to give me your advice. I really appreciate it.

As I'll be renting the apartment via an agency (who are liaising with the managing agent), I guess I need to ask for access into the apartment just after the current tenant moves out - to read meters, etc ...?

Would it be worth me finding out who the current tenant uses in terms of the utilities? I guess everything gets turned off after that person moves out and then on again when I move in ...?

Do I have to do anything regarding water ...?

Thanks so much! I'm feeling very green - but excited!!

C

Premier_2

You are only responsible from when your tenancy agreement starts ... and at that point you should have the keys

If there is a gap in tenancy agreements, the utilities should be transferred back into the landlord's name for the period of the gap.

The easiest way to identify the existing suppliers is to ask the existing occupants (or letting agent/LL) but there are other ways if that fails.

Unless the property has been left empty, the supplies will probably all be left on. If they are turned off, it'll only usually be at the isolation switch/valve.
Hopefully the letting agents will turn it all on for you as they show you around the apartment ... and carry out the statement of condition/inventory.

Water will be supplied by the company that supplies the area. The letting agent should know that ... or, if that fails, any neighbour or current occupant.
You should contact them too when you start the tenancy ... and find out if the water is metered or not. The supplier will probably know if no one else does, but again if there is a meter the letting agent should show you this and agree the reading.

daveboy

If the letting agent is a good one they will provide this information anyway.

I am renting and this infromation was included in the paperwork after signing the agreement.

Also remember, in regards to Sky you will need to get the permission of the owner of the property before you have a dish installed. You could find yourself in trouble if you do not do this - it will quite likely be a clause in the contract that you do this.

ceh209

Take meter readings as soon as you get keys (should be first day of your tenancy agreement unless you've got something weird going on!)

If you wish to pay by direct debit, ask the companies involved to set this up. This will involve them estimating your usage so it might be a route you don't want to go down depending on finances, however if they overestimate then you will be in credit, it won't just get 'lost'. You can also pay on receipt of bill - this will usually be quarterly bills for gas/electric, so you will need to find 3 months money at a time, and will vary throughout the year (more heating in winter etc).

As for any unpaid bills from previous tenant, these aren't your responsibility. I just had this with EDF for electricity - all they wanted was proof of when my tenancy started e.g. the relevant pages of my tenancy agreement before they would deal with me. Only took a few hours as I faxed it to them.

You may need written permission from your landlord to change utility suppliers, or to install sky - check the tenancy agreement for this.

lucylollipop

Sorry to dig up an old thread - it just pretty much covers what I want, apart from one little question...

I've been hunting around for the best price I can find for my energy bills (I've only got electric to arrange, no gas in the building), but the only things I can find anywhere, and all the deals advertised, are for switching - how do I find what's available to a brand new customer? I'm guessing that all the cashback etc on switching deals won't be available, but even if they are, I don't have the previous usage details to be able to complete most of the online checkers - I'm working pretty much purely on average figures. I know the previous tenant was using EDF, but according to some of the comparison sites I can get my energy much cheaper than they supply it, so obviously I'm looking at the cheaper option. Any advice?

Thanks

spiro

lucylollipop wrote: »

Sorry to dig up an old thread - it just pretty much covers what I want, apart from one little question...

I've been hunting around for the best price I can find for my energy bills (I've only got electric to arrange, no gas in the building), but the only things I can find anywhere, and all the deals advertised, are for switching - how do I find what's available to a brand new customer? I'm guessing that all the cashback etc on switching deals won't be available, but even if they are, I don't have the previous usage details to be able to complete most of the online checkers - I'm working pretty much purely on average figures. I know the previous tenant was using EDF, but according to some of the comparison sites I can get my energy much cheaper than they supply it, so obviously I'm looking at the cheaper option. Any advice?

Thanks

Switching is the same if you change suppliers or sign up for the first time. Its the property that is switching from one supplier to another. What you wont have is any consumption figures to use so gauge the cost. Ideally if you can speak to the old tenant ask them how much they used (units not price) over the last 12 months.

Premier_2

lucylollipop wrote: »

Sorry to dig up an old thread - it just pretty much covers what I want, apart from one little question...

I've been hunting around for the best price I can find for my energy bills (I've only got electric to arrange, no gas in the building), but the only things I can find anywhere, and all the deals advertised, are for switching - how do I find what's available to a brand new customer? I'm guessing that all the cashback etc on switching deals won't be available, but even if they are, I don't have the previous usage details to be able to complete most of the online checkers - I'm working pretty much purely on average figures. I know the previous tenant was using EDF, but according to some of the comparison sites I can get my energy much cheaper than they supply it, so obviously I'm looking at the cheaper option. Any advice?

Thanks

When you move into the property, take the meter reading, call the existing supplier (EDF?) with that reading and tell them you are the new occupant and wish to start a new account.
(You'll become their customer anyway as soon as you use their energy, e.g. turn on a light)

Once you are registered as their customer, you can switch to a different supplier if you like. (but be aware any suggestion that another supplier is cheaper is only as good as the expected annual consumption figure you put into the comparison site in the first place). It typically takes 4-6 weeks to switch supplier.

lucylollipop

Cool, thanks everyone