Utility Bills - Pay the old supplier?

Vincent.waldorf

Hi all,

I just wanted to know if the people who have already bought houses could share their experience. I am due to buy a house soon and just doing a little research.

I would like to know who is responsible to pay the bills after the previous occupier has cancelled the bills? I would sign up to a new supplier but would i be liable for the electricity that is not being used by me?

thanks,
VW

Yorkie1

On the day you buy the house, take meter readings and, if possible, take a photo of them too.

Contact the supplier and provide the readings. You will not be liable for any bills before that date.

Vincent.waldorf

Great, thanks I will do that tomorrow when we exchange. thanks!

before the new supplier takes over the connection would I use the electricy that is there? would i need to pay for that?

Werdnal

As above, the day you complete you become responsible for all utility bills (and not forgetting council tax) for the property. Even if you are not moving in straight away, take readings, contact the companies and give them your details. You are of course at liberty to change suppliers to a company of your choice, but you become liable for any supplies used from the moment you take over the property.

DVardysShadow

vincent.waldorf wrote: »

Great, thanks I will do that tomorrow when we exchange. thanks!

before the new supplier takes over the connection would I use the electricy that is there? would i need to pay for that?

No, you do not do this at exchange of contract, you do it at completion. Unless you are voluntarily paying the seller's utilities.

You would be in a 'deemed contract' with the existing supplier for a minimum of 28 days or thereabouts before your new supplier takes over. Do as Yorkie says with readings [don't forget water - although you cannot change supplier]

Vincent.waldorf

Thanks for the advice guys. I plan to have exchange and completion on the same day!!

Sparx

vincent.waldorf wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys. I plan to have exchange and completion on the same day!!

Uhhh, good luck with that..

AlexMac

In my experience gas and electricity companies are really relaxed about the gap in readings between outgoing and incoming tenants or owners, and just write off any small discrepancy, and take your first reported reading at face value. this was the case even when we moved into a property which had been vacant for a while. Or maybe British gas have so much cash they don't worry about a few quid! And as the post above says, you're stuch with the previous supplier for 4 weeks although your new choice of supplier will sort the switch . and BritGas offered to change an old pre-pay key meter for a more conventional billed one at no cost on one flat I bought

property.advert

I bought a property where the vendor gave much lower figures to the utilities, presuming I would blindly take their closing readings as my opening ones but I gave over my own figures and left the utilities to sort it out themselves. Not my business.

withabix

AlexMac wrote: »

In my experience gas and electricity companies are really relaxed about the gap in readings between outgoing and incoming tenants or owners, and just write off any small discrepancy

They aren't!

They will pursue the previous customer to the ends of the earth, even for a few pence, especially if there is a change of supplier at the same time.

Then if that fails, they will dispute the new customer's opening reading and bill them instead.

As advised, take photographs of the meter readings, preferably with that day's newspaper front page in the same shot.

Vincent.waldorf

property.advert wrote: »

I bought a property where the vendor gave much lower figures to the utilities, presuming I would blindly take their closing readings as my opening ones but I gave over my own figures and left the utilities to sort it out themselves. Not my business.

That is quite a cunning plan. I was told that i would need to pay for the difference and the new company said that i need to settle the bill and that I should ask to pay it with cash so they dont keep my bank details and charge me "accidentally" the next month!