When moving into a property, how should I inform the existing utility providers?

wonker

I am moving into a new flat on Tuesday.

But not sure how I can inform the current utility companes that I am a new resident and don't want to pay the previous tennants bills. I don't even know which company they previous tennats used.

Things like gas, electricty, water, phone, tv license and council tax would need to be transferred into my name.

Madmel

Most people leaving a property inform their utility companies so that they are only liable for the amounts relating to readings upto completion. At that time, the utility companies ask for the names of the new occupants so they can transfer the bills into their name.

I would contact the phone company myself because it will affect your listing in the phone book.

As far as I know, you cannot transfer a TV licence; it goes with the people rather than the property. Whenever I have moved, I have always informed the TV licencing people as I don't want to be accused of not having a licence, nor do I want to sub my buyers.

elsien

Take readings from the gas and electric meter on the day you move in, and phone to let them know straight away. You can find out details of the gas provider from Transco, so there must be a similar system for electricity - phone up one of the suppliers and they should be able to point you in the right directon.

gastfo

Take the readings of your gas and electric meter and have your landlord confirm these. For Gas call Transco and for Electricity check your local Yellow Pages for the regional supplier e.g. NorthWest = NorWeb
If you want you can just call the providor of your choice give them the meter serial numbers and they will do the rest.

Call your preferred Telecom provider and do the same. Visit your local council and inform them you have moved in and contact TV Licensing. The previous tenant might not have informed any and have just scarpered.

By doing this yourself you will ssave yourself a lot of headache later.

Debt_Free_Chick

wonker wrote: »

Things like gas, electricty, water, phone, tv license and council tax would need to be transferred into my name.

You are right to be cautious - there is no guarantee that the previous tenant/owner has taken final readings.

Gas - You need the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) for the property. Call Transco's MPRN helpline on 0870 608 1524

Electricity - You need the Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) for the property. Call the distribution company.

Water - contact the water company

Phone - you need to know the current supplier. BT? Cable?

TV License - it won't transfer. Get a license in your name, at the address of the new property.

Council Tax - call the local council.

In each case, you need the name & address of the person to write to. Once you have that, write to that person (or department) and let them know you have moved in from <date>.

Where you can e.g. gas & electricity - take a meter reading the minute you walk in and tell them that reading.

HTH

wonker

Cheers Debt_Free_Chick and everyone else, will start the calls when I move in.

Tiger_greeneyes

Another way of doing this is to decide who you want to take over your utilities and contact them with meter readings. Make sure you take a note of the readings on the day you move in.

They will search for the current suppliers and hand over your readings at the same time as setting up your new account.

Keep a note of the readings for peace of mind.

The only thing you need to do now is look on uswitch to decide who to use! I use npower for both gas and electric btw, they're brilliant at customer service and you get a huge discount every year for direct debit payments.

thecornflake

I found a site called iammoving.com, where you put in your details and it processes/prints letters for all the companies. Most companies are listed on the site and you just select the ones you need.

I'm not sure how well it works - I haven't clicked send yet as I'm waiting for confirmation that my bank reference has come back ok, but I'll post on here and let people know how it went.

Even if you don't use the service it's worth looking through the list of companies just to find ones you have missed/forgotten about.

By the way the helpineedboxes site which is a member of the same group was very good - delivery costs included and delivered the next day as promised.:T