What date should I give utilities etc as moving day?

ladymagpie

Hello everyone! I'm new to posting on the forums (this is my first post) but I have been lurking for several weeks. No stranger to using forums though.

Me and my OH have just purchased our first house and exchanged contracts today! We were meant to exchange on Tuesday and complete a week later, however due to some typos by my bank on the offer paperwork meant for my solicitor, it was delayed by a few days. However all in all from placing an offer to completion its less than 30 days, so I can't complain too much!

We are currently renting and handed in our 4 week notice on Tuesday this week, meaning that we have to move out by the 30th. We'll be getting the keys to our house on the 12th. We don't own any of our own furniture so that leaves us around 18 days to order the essentials at least (fridge/freezer, bed, mattress, washing machine).

However I've got no idea what date to give our electricity/water/gas suppliers. We still have an outstanding balance on our gas an electricity which we are paying off on a direct debit, I'm hoping we could transfer that balance without having to pay it off before we leave by staying with the same supplier. Obviously we need it connecting before I can order things like a washing machine, as we'll need water being supplied to the house, yet at the same time I'm not sure how that works in terms of living between two houses.

Can anyone help?

fishpond

Talk to the relevant energy/water suppliers.

ladymagpie

Well I've spoken to my energy provider who turned out using a price comparison site to be the cheapest anyway, so I've sorted that out. Just so many things to do.

Most places seem to require 10 days notice.

AlexMac

When buying and selling BTLs or second homes or managing void period between tenants I've always found utilities suppliers (in London and the SE at least) very flexible and accommodating about contract start dates and 1st meter readings; and they've not worried about gaps between outgoing and incoming residents. And in practice, they don't turn off things like water, gas and electricity so I can't see a problem?

And are your old gas/elec suppliers already supplying the new house as the convention is that you have to stick with the previous company for a month even if you instruct a switch. When I've done that I've resisted the existing supplier's request that I set up Direct Debits and just told them to send me a final bill after the switch.

Council tax is a bit less flexible, and strict rules apply to exemptions during unfurnished voids or periods during renovation, and water boards are a bit sticky on that too in that they argue that even builders use water. So ask q's or do a websearch but just watch what you say

G_M

ladymagpie wrote: »

...We are currently renting and handed in our 4 week notice on Tuesday this week, meaning that we have to move out by the 30th.
So you pay rent weekly, yes?

.....
However I've got no idea what date to give our electricity/water/gas suppliers.
You give your current suppliers the date your tenancy ends, together with a final meter reading.

You give your new suppliers the date your ownership starts(Completion), together with an opening lmeter reading.

They are two seperate contracts. You can have them overlap,or a gap between them.

I'm more concerned by the tenancy noticeyou areproposing togive. have you got this right?

Read:

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)

tim123456789

ladymagpie wrote: »

Well I've spoken to my energy provider who turned out using a price comparison site to be the cheapest anyway, so I've sorted that out. Just so many things to do.

Most places seem to require 10 days notice.

10 days notice for what?

they might require 10 days notice to arrange to get a meter read, but you can start an account immediately you move in if that's all the notice that you get

tim

hazyjo

Bit confused.

Are you worried that the people you're buying from will disconnect everything with the suppliers? Never had that happen to me. Always just moved in and had water, gas, electric, etc. The only one I've had to sort is the phone, SKY, broadband, etc.

Or has the house you're buying been empty for a while with utilities disconnected?

I think you have to use their utility suppliers when you first move in. Not sure how long for. Could be wrong but have definitely heard it. Are the suppliers where you currently are, and the house you're buying, the same?

Your current suppliers will send you a bill for the outstanding balance, or just take it from by direct debit (my gas supplier decided to take around £800 from the account when I sold in April! Lovely!)

Instead of buying new (which I presume you're doing), why not use the money to clear the debt and buy second hand. I've just bought a second hand washing machine and fridge freezer as I plan to redo my whole kitchen and will get new appliances then.

Jx

ladymagpie

G_M wrote: »

They are two seperate contracts. You can have them overlap,or a gap between them.

I'm more concerned by the tenancy noticeyou areproposing togive. have you got this right?

With all due respect I think you haven't read my post correctly.

I have given 4 weeks notice for my rented property (as stated in my OP) as required by my contract and most contracts I have ever looked at that are rented.

When looking online most things such as gas, water and electricity can only do things regarding a move 10 days before I finish moving. For example:

npower wrote:

If you're moving out of a home supplied by npower you can choose to take us with you or close your account. We'll need you to call us no more than 10 days before you move with the following information

That is from their moving home section on the website, I can't paste the link.

So when I rang npower it was explained to me that while they can, as someone else has pointed out, get everything set up for me today (and have done) nothing will begin until after the date I actually get my keys and I will be charged in the interim by the current supplier to the house which is eon.

ognum

I am also confused!

You are responsible for all the bills at your current rented house, gas, electric, water and council tax until the end of your tenancy if you live there or not, the meter readings should be from the last day you rent.

In you new bought property you are responsible for all the bills from the day of completion.

You may be responsible for two lots for a while but that is the way it works.

ladymagpie

hazyjo wrote: »

Bit confused.

Are you worried that the people you're buying from will disconnect everything with the suppliers? Never had that happen to me. Always just moved in and had water, gas, electric, etc. The only one I've had to sort is the phone, SKY, broadband, etc.

No, I was wondering what I needed to do and in what order and what date to give them as the date to start charging me from (date I get keys or date I vacate my rented property) however when I explained to my providers I gave them both dates and they've sorted it, thanks anyway.

Or has the house you're buying been empty for a while with utilities disconnected?

I think you have to use their utility suppliers when you first move in. Not sure how long for. Could be wrong but have definitely heard it. Are the suppliers where you currently are, and the house you're buying, the same?

The house we're buying is a repossession and it's been empty for several months, so that's why I was wondering about whether I needed to get it reconnecting or anything like that. The suppliers are different however my current supplier was cheaper when I used a price comparison website (uswitch) and offered me a good deal, and they explained to me that I will be charged by eon for a short period.

Your current suppliers will send you a bill for the outstanding balance, or just take it from by direct debit (my gas supplier decided to take around £800 from the account when I sold in April! Lovely!)

Instead of buying new (which I presume you're doing), why not use the money to clear the debt and buy second hand. I've just bought a second hand washing machine and fridge freezer as I plan to redo my whole kitchen and will get new appliances then.

Jx

I asked about the outstanding balance and it's less than £100 which shouldn't be a problem. The house we've got is only 8 years old and I like the kitchen that's in there so we're keeping it. We're buying new as we're hoping that if we go into a store we can negotiate some money off as we'll be buying a washer/dryer, fridge and dishwasher all in one purchase, along with having guarantees and having it fitted by the store. With things like bedroom furniture we're just going to buy a bed and a mattress, sleep in the 2nd bedroom while we gradually do up the master bedroom before saving up more money for nicer furniture. Then we can leave the cheap bed and mattress in the 2nd bedroom for the family that have threatened to visit, lol.

hazyjo

As ognum says. You pay until the day your tenancy ends, and you pay from completion on the house you buy (council tax, utilities, etc).

As you have now exchanged, you can start ringing suppliers, but, as I said above, I do think you have to stick with the existing to start off with. Anyone here able to confirm if that's still the case?

Jx