Gas+electric for new rented accommodation

spanner200

Hi

I am due to move into a house with three others (whom I have never met) and have been told that the rent doesn't include utilities. I was just wondering how I go about signing up with a gas+electric provider- do I need to know who the previous suppliers were? Also is it worth getting four people's name on the account or would this be too much hassle to sort out? Can anyone give me a rough guesstimate as to the costs of this per month?

Cheers!

Cardew

Presumably you are students?

If you have an normal(credit) account someone will have to be responsible for the bills; inevitably a problem when someone moves out.

You may be better getting a pre-pay account with Ebico and have a kitty for the costs. Ebico don't charge extra.

On the assumption that you are students it will cost a lot of money for heating and lighting as in my experience with my children they don't realise that:
Lights and appliances have an on/off switch
That opening a window if the room is too warm is not a better method than turning down heating.

If the average for a UK family is approx 1000 pounds a year you can bet 4 people in a house will cost more.

spanner200

Hi,
thanks for the tip- actually none of us are students, we're all young professionals, sadly none of us can afford to buy so like many others I rent a room with people in a similar situations.

roger56

I'd also recommend Ebico - they are one of the cheapest suppliers and have a fair trade, not for profit approach with just one rate for gas and one for electricity regardless of how you pay.

They are here:
http://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/indexen.php

Ken68

Hi Spanner, I doubt a provider will accept all tenants as responsible for the charges. Your landlord if named, would, no doubt ,want a cut. Problem ! . Perhaps yourself plus upfront deposits from your colleagues would work.
Ebico I approve.

JasonW_2

I would imagine the landlord already has gas and elec, and you will need to go with these unless he is willing to change, and the bills would be your (all) responsibility. It would be unusual for there to be no suppliers at present

tripled

You will need to register with the existing suppliers when you move in. Check your tenancy agreement, if it says you can't change then you're stuck, if it doesn't then go for it.

With regards to liability, I would recommend paying on a direct debit slightly more than you expect to use and phone in regular readings to make sure it is in credit. This way when you move out no-one gets lubered with a bill. For water get a monthly payment book unless you are on a meter.

spanner200

thank you all for your help-it's the first time I'm moving away from home and I want to ensure that things go as smoothly as possibly- espechially as I havent met the housemates yet!

The landlord seems very nice and accommodating- which is a relief as I've had some dodgy landlords during my student days! I'll make sure to check out what the contract says. Will I need to contact the local council and inform them of the number of tenants in the house? Also am I right in that you pay council tax for 10 months of the year, so that effectively the two other months are 'free'? I just want to ensure that should I move out after 6 months the next tenant doesn't get lumbered with my share of the council tax bills!

Cardew

There is an annual bill for council tax. However many(not all) councils take the payment in 10 installments. i.e. Annual Bill = £1,200 pay 10 x £120 However the effective payment is £100 a month and each of the 4 of you should pay £25 for each month you are living there.

spanner200

Cardew wrote:

There is an annual bill for council tax. However many(not all) councils take the payment in 10 installments. i.e. Annual Bill = £1,200 pay 10 x £120 However the effective payment is £100 a month and each of the 4 of you should pay £25 for each month you are living there.

thanks, I thought that was the case. The property I am moving into is in Oxford and is band D- which I gather is approx £1300 per annum