Student House

patchwork_cat

My DS is moving into a shared student house with his mates that has been vacant for the summer. The landlord's agent says that teh previous tenants have cancelled their gas and electricity.

Do they just sign up with a provider like a normal householder or does he need to check if there is an existing provider? As it will only be tenanted for 9/10 months is there any one provider that is better of cheaper than the others for this.

ALso whenever we have changed supplier it takes ages, how can he be sure the supply will be connected when he moves in?

Sorry if this is a stupid question!

Wywth

patchwork_cat wrote: »

My DS is moving into a shared student house with his mates that has been vacant for the summer. The landlord's agent says that teh previous tenants have cancelled their gas and electricity.

Do they just sign up with a provider like a normal householder or does he need to check if there is an existing provider? As it will only be tenanted for 9/10 months is there any one provider that is better of cheaper than the others for this.

ALso whenever we have changed supplier it takes ages, how can he be sure the supply will be connected when he moves in?

Sorry if this is a stupid question!

Yes, just like any other household, they must contact the existing provider(s). Thy should have done this on the first day of the tenancy, and it sounds like this has already happened, for that is when they will be liable for charges from.

Failure to do so means they will be charged on the suppliers standard (expensive) tariff until they agree otherwise. What's more, it doesn't sound like they took meter readings on hat first day of the tenancy (nor presumably had them recorded onm their ingoing inventory/statement of condition) :eek

Lets hope the outgoing tenants were an honest bunch
Also how do you know the landlord hasn't been in during the summer hols and used any leccy? (When I was a uni student, the landlord often used the property, not only for maintenance but he often put his friends & family up in there - he lived nextdoor.

We knew it was not legally permitted, but he was a great landlord, the property was dirt cheap (and better quality than any other studenty house we saw) and he always told us about it ... and gave us a generous discount on the rent for any gas. electricity, etc he used. But again, not all landlords are as honest.

Finally, once they have registered as an energy customer with the existing supplier(s) they can of course switch supplier. As you say it takes weeks from application.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

Jonesy88

Hi

As wywth has said, your son will already have a supplier for his utilities. The landlord will probably know or you can contact national grid etc to find out. The students need to open an account from the day they become responsible for the supply.

I would make sure they take reads when they move in (or asap if they already have) to check the account opens using the right reads and they only get charged for their usage.

Have the students decided if they are all going to be named on the account? We used to have 1 person on the gas, 1 on the elec, 1 for ntl etc etc but this would involve trust as the person named would shoulder the responsibility.

In relation to changing supplier, the LL may be relunctant for your son to do this - just for ease really so he knows what's going on. Moving will take 4-6 weeks and although it could be benefical, by the time the gains for the 9/10 months are worked out and split between 4/5 people i personally dont think it will be worth it.

Also remember to take closing reads when they move out!

Cash-Strapped.T32

Hi - This thread is very pertinent to me too, as I'll be moving into a flat soon that has been unoccupied for a prolonged period (power will have been used for viewings, etc) and I'm a little unsure myself as how to proceed re; sorting my utilities.
And I thought I'd post here rather than start a new thread that might be redundant..

Wywth wrote: »

Thy should have done this on the first day of the tenancy, and it sounds like this has already happened, for that is when they will be liable for charges from.

Failure to do so means they will be charged on the suppliers standard (expensive) tariff until they agree otherwise.

This part has me the most interested, and is really my reason for posting.
Can I take the above advice to mean that if I contact the existing supplier as soon as I move in (with accurate meter readings) I can avoid the default tariffs and choose one that suits me?
(and does this have to be with the existing supplier or can be be from a different one)

My limited understanding was that I would be stuck on the defaults for 4-6 weeks after moving in, no matter what I do - In fact I was going to post a thread asking if I could start the switching process before I moved in, assuming I can obtain the meter readings that is..

So let's say for the sake of argument I ask the lettings agent who the suppliers are, and on day 1 I ring them, give them the meter readings, can I start being billed on a tariff of my choice from that day?

However if I wish to switch from that supplier to a totally different supplier then that's when I'd have to wait for 4-6 weeks?

Sorry if this is a silly question that sounds like it's splitting hairs but I've never had to start from scratch like this before, and putting into single-syllable baby talk is probably the only way I'd understand.. :P

Wywth

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

Hi - This thread is very pertinent to me too, as I'll be moving into a flat soon that has been unoccupied for a prolonged period (power will have been used for viewings, etc) and I'm a little unsure myself as how to proceed re; sorting my utilities.
And I thought I'd post here rather than start a new thread that might be redundant..




This part has me the most interested, and is really my reason for posting.
Can I take the above advice to mean that if I contact the existing supplier as soon as I move in (with accurate meter readings) I can avoid the default tariffs and choose one that suits me?
(and does this have to be with the existing supplier or can be be from a different one)

My limited understanding was that I would be stuck on the defaults for 4-6 weeks after moving in, no matter what I do - In fact I was going to post a thread asking if I could start the switching process before I moved in, assuming I can obtain the meter readings that is..

So let's say for the sake of argument I ask the lettings agent who the suppliers are, and on day 1 I ring them, give them the meter readings, can I start being billed on a tariff of my choice from that day?

However if I wish to switch from that supplier to a totally different supplier then that's when I'd have to wait for 4-6 weeks?

Sorry if this is a silly question that sounds like it's splitting hairs but I've never had to start from scratch like this before, and putting into single-syllable baby talk is probably the only way I'd understand.. :P

When you contact the supplier (hopefully on the day your TA commences) the supplier will set up an account for you. Normally they will talk you though the best tariffs they offer. Even if they don't, you can certainly ask.
Transfer of tariff with the same supplier often occurs same day, and if this is the first day of your TA that would mean you being on the tariff of your choice from the start

Be wary of agreeing to any tariff with an early exit fee if you've not already checked this is the best tariff for you from all suppliers.

You shouldn't start a switch of supplier before you are the account holder. Becoming the account holder will make you responsible for someone else's consumption (if it's not blocked anyway). If you don't become the account holder, then the account holder will be notified of the switch request, which presumably they will object to as they did not request it.

macman

You can't 'cancel' the supplies, unless they are physically disconnected. The outgoing tenants will (or should) have simply asked for their final bill, advised of their departure and supplied closing readings.
The incoming tenants are in a deemed contract with the existing suplier from day one and need to register with them for a account before they can switch, if they wish to.
cash strapped: you can opt for any tariff you want on day one. If you don't specify or register, you'll be billed on Standard. If you choose another tariff, be sure that it doesn't have an ETC if you then wish to switch.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Thanks Wywth, Mac!

Ok, I'm very happy with that situation - I'm contacting the LA on Tues to arrange the date when I'll take possession of the keys (this will be my recurring rent date too), and at that time I'll obtain the current supplier info.

I'll spend the interim period researching which of that provider's tariffs would suit me best, and as soon as I have the keys in my hand, even before I switch the lights on, I'll phone up & set up my account using the tariff I've chosen.

Thanks all, right, so I know what I'm going to do about the Gas & Electricity, I just need to think about getting the phone/water sorted now! Thanks again.

Wywth

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

Thanks Wywth, Mac!

Ok, I'm very happy with that situation - I'm contacting the LA on Tues to arrange the date when I'll take possession of the keys (this will be my recurring rent date too), and at that time I'll obtain the current supplier info.

I'll spend the interim period researching which of that provider's tariffs would suit me best, and as soon as I have the keys in my hand, even before I switch the lights on, I'll phone up & set up my account using the tariff I've chosen.

Thanks all, right, so I know what I'm going to do about the Gas & Electricity, I just need to think about getting the phone/water sorted now! Thanks again.

Whilst not really a topic for this board, the water is easy. You don't have a choice. Contact the local water company and set up an account on first day of TA. If the supply is metered, they may ask for a meter reading.

The phone is more complicated. I suggest you ask on the phones board. This may be something you can/should arrange in advance, but they will advise more over on that board.