gas and electric supply at empty property

myliwg01

My wife has inherited her late fathers house,and it is unoccupied and up for sale.Do we have to pay standing charges to Scottish Power who are saying we have to pay them even if no gas or electric are being used.

Nada666

Are you planning to leave it to the elements and ruin and expecting the purchaser to buy it sight unseen? If not you have a supply from British Gas and should pay for it. There are alternative tariffs and suppliers available with cheaper standing charges (as low as 0 p per day.)

myliwg01

Thanks for that,I really wanted to know if it is compulsory to have to pay standing charges,as we notified Scottish power the house was unoccupied and they gave us a full refund on what was left in my late father in laws account which was in his name,and we did not apply to them for an account,my point being the contract was with my late father in law.

Ectophile

myliwg01 wrote: »

Thanks for that,I really wanted to know if it is compulsory to have to pay standing charges,as we notified Scottish power the house was unoccupied and they gave us a full refund on what was left in my late father in laws account which was in his name,and we did not apply to them for an account,my point being the contract was with my late father in law.

The only way to avoid paying standing charges is to have the supply disconnected.

This may not be a good idea on a property you are trying to sell, not least because it means that there will be no heating in the house.

Janetta

Hello,
Dont disconect it - that's costly and would then involve reinstating charges for the new buyers.
Instead after the final reading, you will be charged a daily rate with a monthly bill.

Davesnave

Ectophile wrote: »

The only way to avoid paying standing charges is to have the supply disconnected.

We don't know the exact circumstances of the sale, but if it's a normal type of transaction and 'oop norf,' then at this time of year, having no power/heat will be a false economy.

This is not only because of potential damage in the event of a delayed sale, but because a cold, unlit house creates all the wrong vibes, and perhaps, worse ones about the vendor.

Of course, none of the above might be relevant. but as ectophile's answer above looks pretty obvious to most of us who can look up a power company's T&C, there is only the less obvious left to consider.

I've been there with an inherited house, trying to sell through autumn, going into winter. It is a worry and it isn't the best time, but few of us get to choose.

comeandgo

Yes Scottish Power do have standing charges. Change the supplier to one who does not.

Davesnave

comeandgo wrote: »

Yes Scottish Power do have standing charges. Change the supplier to one who does not.

I thought they all had them, but apparently, although they do, some are set at zero.

Uswitch says:

"So if you have a property that is uninhabited for a large part of the year, then it is worth considering a plan with standing charges set at £0."

The problem is, that the companies with £0 standing charges tend to charge more for energy consumed.

comeandgo

Yes, the usage rates are higher but if property empty for long period and no or low usage then it may work out cheaper.

WellKnownSid

Davesnave wrote: »

The problem is, that the companies with £0 standing charges tend to charge more for energy consumed.

It won't be a problem for the OP because they won't be using any (much) electricity.

It might be a problem for the potential buyers - as this new electricity supplier will be highlighted in the vendor's pack.

footyguy

myliwg01 wrote: »

My wife has inherited her late fathers house,and it is unoccupied and up for sale.Do we have to pay standing charges to Scottish Power who are saying we have to pay them even if no gas or electric are being used.

When your wife inherited the property, she should have put the accounts in her name from that date.

She will have to pay the costs as per the tariff agreed. If she has not agreed to a specific tariff, then she will be put on the supplier's deemed tariff (for residential customers this is usually the supplier's expensive, standard tariff)

She should consult a comparison site to find the best deal .

I hope she has taken care of other things too, like insurance and council tax.