Renting for the first time!

Ashleigh2610

Hi all

New to this, I am 25 and about to move out of my parents house and start renting with my partner!

Very excited!!

I was just looking for any advice on anything really, ie, will we have to set up new accounts for gas/elec/water etc and how do we arrange council tax?

Sorry if these seem silly things to ask but as I say I am completely new!

Thanks in advance

IveSeenTheLight

Ashleigh2610 wrote: »

Hi all

New to this, I am 25 and about to move out of my parents house and start renting with my partner!

Very excited!!

I was just looking for any advice on anything really, ie, will we have to set up new accounts for gas/elec/water etc and how do we arrange council tax?

Sorry if these seem silly things to ask but as I say I am completely new!

Thanks in advance

You will need to pay for gas / electricty etc but will inherit the existing supplier.
It will be up to you whether you wish to stay with them or on the tarriff that is set up.

As for council tax, google your local council, get the contact details and notify them of your tenancy start date.
Tehy'll give you the details for how to pay / how much / when etc.

Werdnal

Read the Sticky thread "A Tenant's Guide to Renting" at the top of the forum which will give you lots of advice.

You need to take readings for the power, gas and water (or tell the utility suppliers if it is not a metered supply), and take on the accounts for each in your name. Council tax is the same - contact the local council and register for that too.

Have you already been accepted for a rental property, or are you moving in with your partner?

If you are still looking for a place, be aware of the costs you will need to pay before you even get the keys - could be £100-£250 EACH for credit/reference checks, plus 1 month's rent and a deposit equal to atleast 1 month's rent too.

Do you have sufficient income to be able to cover the rent and other costs of living together?

Ashleigh2610

Hi

Thank you for your replies, I have just read that and found it very helpful.

I am moving in with my partner, we have been planning it for around 6months now so are fully aware of extra costs ie, admin fees etc

It was just how to go about the bills etc I was unsure of

Thank you again

Reue

Ashleigh2610 wrote: »

Hi

Thank you for your replies, I have just read that and found it very helpful.

I am moving in with my partner, we have been planning it for around 6months now so are fully aware of extra costs ie, admin fees etc

It was just how to go about the bills etc I was unsure of

Thank you again

Its not as bad as many first think.

As others have said, very first thing to do is take meter readings of gas/elec/water as soon as you get through the door and send a copy of these to the lettings agents. Contact the gas/elec/water suppliers with these readings and your contact details to setup the accounts. Make sure they are aware youre just taking over from the exisiting account and not getting locked into a new account for 12+months.

Contact the council with your moving in date and they will send you a council tax bill. Probably worth asking for it to be split in 12 months (instead of the usual 10).

Setup anything extra such as tv licence, phone, internet etc.