Completing on Friday...electric/gas?

Velvet_Glove

We're FTB and are finally getting the keys to our new place on Friday.

We have to give 2 months notice on our current rental, and so we will still be renting there when we take possession. We are using this so we can take our time with moving things over and cleaning, but my question is regarding electric/gas. Obviously we will need to have it in the new place from Friday but we will still need it in the rental so a straightforward transfer isn't really an option. I have emailed our current providers asking what they think, but I was wondering about starting a new account with a provider (we were going to do a comparison switch anyway) for the new place and then just cancelling with our current when the cleaning/moving is done. Is this a sensible idea?

silvercar

but I was wondering about starting a new account with a provider (we were going to do a comparison switch anyway) for the new place and then just cancelling with our current when the cleaning/moving is done.

Seems sensible, do the same for insurance.

Velvet_Glove

silvercar wrote: »

Seems sensible, do the same for insurance.

Thank you - I actually did do the same for home insurance!

robatwork

Sensible. Don't forget water too and to take readings of all on completion date.

To keep it simple I continued with the current provider for my new place when I moved with some overlap, like yourselves, and then switched once I had settled in.

And don't forget council tax as well...

Fire_Fox

Velvet_Glove wrote: »

We're FTB and are finally getting the keys to our new place on Friday.

We have to give 2 months notice on our current rental, and so we will still be renting there when we take possession. We are using this so we can take our time with moving things over and cleaning, but my question is regarding electric/gas. Obviously we will need to have it in the new place from Friday but we will still need it in the rental so a straightforward transfer isn't really an option. I have emailed our current providers asking what they think, but I was wondering about starting a new account with a provider (we were going to do a comparison switch anyway) for the new place and then just cancelling with our current when the cleaning/moving is done. Is this a sensible idea?

You don't take gas and electric with you, the meter and supply remains there for the next resident! You close your old account on the old property by giving readings and a forwarding address on your last day, and open a new account on the new property by giving readings and payment details on your first day. This may mean you have two accounts open simultaneously, since you will be using both properties.

You also don't choose the supplier from day one, the second you start using energy you are in a deemed contract with the existing supplier, then you start the switching process which takes perhaps six weeks.

Velvet_Glove

The only way I know of doing it (I've only moved rentals in the past and never with any overlap) is that you call your current supplier with the meter readings for both properties and they then take up the supply of the new place. Hence my confusion. Will I be given the name of the supplier at the new address to call?

Lavendyr

We were in the same position. You should have the details of the current supplier at your new house on your property information form that the vendor had to complete so look there first.

When you move in take meter readings, then call the existing supplier. They will put you on a deemed contract which is quite expensive. If they are a supplier you want to stay with, I'd suggest opening an account with them straight away, then closing your old account at the rented place when your tenancy ends.

If you don't want to stay with the supplier currently supplying your new house, still call them with meter readings and it may be worth staying on the deemed contract until you have found a supplier you want to go with, then transfer at a later date.

In our case, our old supplier was nPower (who we didn't want to stay with) and the existing supplier at the new house was EDF, who at the time had the most competitive deal and fixed energy prices, so it was fairly straightforward - we just rang EDF on the completion day after we got the keys, gave them the meter readings, and opened the account with them then and there.

Building_Surveyor

i had to do this with my tv license as i needed one for both the new house i purchased and my old rental for a week cross over. i probably could have got away with it but didn't want to risk it. I just simply signed up as a new customer and cancelled the old one when i left. utilities i didn't bother telling them until i had the final meter readings, that's all they are interested in.