Buying house but not moving in for a few months

maas

It looks like I'm going to complete on a house next week (FTB), but I have no intention of moving in any time soon (various reasons) just wondering what happens regarding utility bills etc

Do I contact them all on day 1 and give meter readings and just pay the bills as they arrive, or do I actually say no one is living here etc? DO they actually cut off the water/electricity?

Its likely to be an "exchange/complete on the same day" thing so presumably I just arrange the buildings insurance there and then?

Pixie5740

Take the meter readings when you move in. There could be standing charges which you will be liable for once you become the owner. Also, with winter coming you might want to have the heating on some of the time to stop pipes from bursting.

Do your insurance policies say anything about how long you can leave the property vacant for?

maas

I only just received notice on Monday that my vendor is pushing for a completion next week (chain and im at the bottom) so I havent even looked at insurance, I suppose I better get on GoCompare

[Deleted User]

Don't forget to tell the council .. you won't need to pay council tax if the house isn't occupied

maas

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Don't forget to tell the council .. you won't need to pay council tax if the house isn't occupied

Yeah I know. I'll just register myself there (and on the electoral roll). Its only going to be 3-6 months. There's a few things I want to do to the house before i move in

edit: you only get 2 months free CT before you then have to pay double in my area. I'll double check it but im sure it worked out better to just register from day 1

Mojisola

maas wrote: »

It looks like I'm going to complete on a house next week (FTB), but I have no intention of moving in any time soon (various reasons) just wondering what happens regarding utility bills etc

Do I contact them all on day 1 and give meter readings and just pay the bills as they arrive, or do I actually say no one is living here etc? DO they actually cut off the water/electricity?

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Take the meter readings when you move in.

You have to give the meter readings from the day you own the property, not when you move in. As Pixie says - it would be best to keep the heat on to prevent pipes freezing.

You'll be responsible for all costs - council tax, utilities, insurance, etc as soon as it becomes yours.

Also give a thought to security. I know someone who didn't move in straightaway because he wanted to do some work on the house who came over one weekend to find that his boiler and lots of pipework had been stolen from the house.

[Deleted User]

whether you will be liable to CTax or not while the property is vacant is Local Authority dependant, so check what your local authority's policy is on this.

maas

Empty unfurnished properties exempt for up to 2 months followed by zero reduction for 2 years.

Correction: I'll get the first 2 months free then normal rate. So I'll do that.

Im just wondering what else I need to do. Most of the checklists are for moving home such as notifying various people (doctor, utilities, bank etc) but with not moving in just wondering what needs to be done.

• Insurance
• Council
• There's no alarm on the property and intend on getting one fitted, no point waiting until I move in?

eddddy

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Don't forget to tell the council .. you won't need to pay council tax if the house isn't occupied

No... you have to pay Council Tax, but you may (or may not) get a discount.

In fact, you have to pay a surcharge if it's unoccupied for more than 2 years.

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties

maas

Meet the neighbours, swap phone numbers incase they need to get hold of me (alarm ringing etc)

AlexMac

maas wrote: »

...I have no intention of moving in any time soon (various reasons) just wondering what happens regarding utility bills etc

Do I contact them all on day 1 and give meter readings and just pay the bills as they arrive, or do I actually say no one is living here etc? DO they actually cut off the water/electricity?...so presumably I just arrange the buildings insurance there and then?

Returning momentarily to your Qs; "DO they actually cut off the water/electricity?"

No- they don't cut you off, and you can get away with doing nothing immediately, as in practice, all the energy suppliers do is bombard "the new occupier" with letters asking you to sign up. And also (in my experience of British Gas) they are totally relaxed about gaps in readings.

Water's a bit different/meaner in my experience, so make an anonymous call asking in principle, or about another imaginary address, asking what discounts you get (Thames Water are tight and didn't want to discount me for voids if building work was being done, as they argued that builders use water !) There also may be a connectdifferent criteria between Council Tax and Water board void discounts so ask Q's guardedly, as if you admit where/who you are they'll ask for dough

You will obviously want insurance from day one, but my lender offered insurance between exchange and completion as a freebie, plus immmediate cover on completion, so one less thing to do, and they (Nationwide) were not a lot dearer tahn others and very effective when we unfortunately had a minor claim