Renting and Utilities

Lolowens

Hi, myself and my partner are currently half way through the process of renting a property through a letting agent. We have paid some extortionate "agency fees" so far and are due to collect the keys at the end of the week.

After calling the letting agents to try and find out previous utility bill suppliers, they had no clue and informed me that as a managed property, they will be sorting out the energy suppliers.

I'm left a little confused by this? How do I know that the letting agents are going to get my the best tariff? I want the security of knowing how much I owe energy companies and a breakdown of what I use. As the letting agents are famous for adding on hidden fees, will they add another "admin" fee on for this as well? I know I can save money by having a paper free account for eg. Will they listen to my suggestions?

Before I sign on the dotted line I would like to know if anybody else has gone through the same experience as this? What is the best form of action to take? Can I opt out of allowing the letting agents arrange the bills and do it myself?

As a first time tenant, I'm pretty worried and concerned about energy prices as it is, and can do without the added stress of unreasonable costs by letting agents.

I'd be so grateful for any help.

Thank you,
Laura

Werdnal

The letting agents will (or atleast should) contact the utilities and put them in your name, with meter readings from the point you take possession/sign the tenancy. Take your own meter reading from the time you move in just to confirm they are the same. You are then able to contact the suppliers and discuss a better tariff, or change to a more preferable supplier. Takes a few days/weeks to changeover, but I am fairly sure you cannot set up your own tariffs etc before you take on the existing accounts. Its the same whether you are buying or renting.

Read the TA you are given, as it may have a clause that you cannot change supplier, which is pretty much unenforceable, as the agent cannot tell you where to buy your groceries or fuel for your car, so cannot stipulate where you buy your power or gas either!

Just as a heads up, if you are new to renting, have a glance through the stickly thread at the top of the forum - A Tenant's guide to Renting, which might help with any other queries or issues you may have.

Lolowens

Thank you so much for your reply I was concerned that the letting agents are going to try and add more fees to what I'm already stumping up.

Out of interest, do you know what tariffs I should pay particular interest too? I've only been told that there is gas central heating, and it is a new build (mid terrace, pvc windows etc) which should work in my favour when reducing utility costs. But when it comes to fixed term, standard, economy tariffs etc I'm clueless? I have a 6 month min contract if this helps, and looking to carry on renting for approx 12 months.

Mr_Moo_2

What Werdnal says - take on the current energy suppliers, then switch. When they say "sorting out" the suppliers that will usually just mean getting and supplying meter readings. Whatever, get your own meter readings in any case as soon as you take up the tenancy - and make sure the supplier has them. Good luck with the new property.

SternMusik

Mr_Moo wrote: »

What Werdnal says - take on the current energy suppliers, then switch. When they say "sorting out" the suppliers that will usually just mean getting and supplying meter readings. Whatever, get your own meter readings in any case as soon as you take up the tenancy - and make sure the supplier has them. Good luck with the new property.

^ this. Letting agents may say that they'll submit readings but it doesn't mean they will do it, or get it right. (They have to get the date and the meter readings correct - plenty of scope for mistakes. In the case of economy 7 meters there are day and night readings just waiting to be confused as well.)

Since you are responsible for the bills you should ask for the supplier details and ring them up to give your name and readings. Take a picture of the meters on the day you move in - I have had to refer to these pictures twice to sort out bills in rental properties.

dimbo61

As an example BT infinity comes with an 18 months contract BUT if you are moving they have to cancel your contract.
So look round for the best deal and contact the supplier you want to use.
It may take a few weeks to change supplier and you will have to pay the old supplier until then.

AlexMac

As regards your supplementary Q " do you know what tariffs I should pay particular interest to... there is gas central heating, and it is a new build " there are other pages on this and on the main website, pointers to comparison/switch sites, but in practice, and over many years, we have found that so called 'on-line' tarrifs with dual fuel, monthly direct debit and paperless billing are cheapest (ring your provider as well as searching online if this needs explanation). We even logged on to a recent 'bulk-purchase' scheme initiated by the Consumer Association, and with absolutely accurate real world meter readings (we knew these as we'd moved just over a year prior) they only offered us a £50-odd saving on our current British gas tarrif. So we stuck with a provider we know, who have excellent free 24-hour call-centres, rather than a new unkown. I did check out EDF a year or so ago but at that time, they'd expanded so fast, their call centres were part-time (not even open all hours!) and in melt-down.

AlexMac

Sorry- to clarify the post above- and as the lawyers s ay - without prejudice! When I said "they (the CA) only offered us a £50-odd saving on our current British gas tarrif", I meant £50 per annum, which represented a very small % of our annual bills. So thats a 'OUI' to British Gas and a 'NUL POINTS' for Electricite de France!

[Deleted User]

Werdnal wrote: »

I am fairly sure you cannot set up your own tariffs etc before you take on the existing accounts. Its the same whether you are buying or renting.

I concur - we moved at the end of the year and had to go on one of the existing suppliers tariffs whilst the change to our preferred provider takes place.

pmlindyloo

Just to add my penny's worth. As well as taking your own meter readings take a picture (just so there is absolutely no confusion) Not everybody is perfect at reading meters!

If the previous tenants have notified the utility supplies that they have moved the companies usually send a letter addressed to 'the occupier' so look out for these (easy to bin them when you're in the throes of moving.)

Lolowens

Thank you all for your advice its been a massive help.
I'm going to take pictures of absolutely everything and get the agent to countersign everything to make my own inventory, in this will be the meter readings.

I have seen a clause in the contract which says if we change the supplier, and the agents want to change it back after we have vacated the premises, then we are liable for the change over fees (even after we have left). Maybe it would be less hassle, if not more expensive, to stick with the current providers.