Paying utility bills with overlapping inhabiting of 2 properties.

AlistairM

So we’re completing on our house on the 22nd of January but we will be staying in our rented flat whilst we rewire, repaint and re-carpet as that’ll be easier to do before moving our stuff in.
So there’ll be an overlapping time where we’ll need to pay for utility supplies to both properties.
Never done this before so I wanted to check on the best way to do this?
Do I start a second account with a supplier, or is the person on the other end of the phone likely to understand setting up temporary billing for two addresses?

Anyone got experience of this any pitfalls to avoid or things to take advantage of?

Guest101

Well yes you'd just set up another account, not sure why you think this will be a problem?

AlistairM

Guest101 wrote: »

Well yes you'd just set up another account, not sure why you think this will be a problem?

If moving house has taught me anything, it's that things are seldom as simple as they ought to be.


Maybe it's turned me paranoid.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

You enter a deemed contract with the present suppliers of your new property on 22nd January - find out from the vendors who this is, and contact them on the 22nd with meter readings, and to set up an account. You can then commence (should you wish to), a switch to your preferred supplier.


Edit: this is for gas & electricity, not other utilities.

eddddy

AlistairM wrote: »

Do I start a second account with a supplier, or is the person on the other end of the phone likely to understand setting up temporary billing for two addresses?

This is really simple and straightforward. Just phone the companies that supply the new address and tell them that you are taking over the supply.

(Don't talk about temporary billing etc - there's no such concept, and so that might trigger confusion.)

And when your tenancy finishes at your current place, phone the companies that supply that address and tell them.

AlistairM

Perfect!


Thanks people

theartfullodger

eddddy wrote: »

This is really simple and straightforward. Just phone the companies that supply the new address and tell them that you are taking over the supply.......

The confirm, in writing or by email - keep copies -with meter readings & dates.

Otherwise it's amazing how they seem to lose the info...

AlexMac

In fact, if you wanted to be very cynical, and buy a bit of time, or delay paying, you could do nothing in respect of the new property, until the Utilities Companies write to 'the new occupier'.

They will do this, several times, over a few weeks, without getting stressed, as soon as the exiting occupier notifies them to close down their accounts and issue a final bill. Unless the exiting occupier has told them your name (which they shouldn't really do as they are not empowered to set up a contact in your name, and for all you know, your spouse or civil partner may prefer to be the subscriber!).

In my experience of our last few moves, or when a tenent has moved out of our little BTL flat, Energy providers such as British Gas only want an opening reading, trust the new customer to say when they (you) moved in, and don't even care if there has been a void period or if there has been a gap, or even a little bit of usage since the last consumer bailed out!

Not that I'm suggesting you bilk the energy providers of a few quid's standing charge or usage; after all, they always treat their customers so generously; for example reducing tariffs as soon as wholesale energy prices drop, don't they! .... oh... hang on a mo'...?

D_M_E

As others have said, you need to find out what company supplies the new property.

IF it's the same supplier that currently supplies where you live you could end up with linked accounts and end up being billed for both properties long after you have left your rented accommodation.

I would suggest that to avoid this, IF it is the same company, you have one account in your own name at the rented property and the second account in your partner's name at the new property, and have any correspondence sent to the appropriate address, DO NOT have both accounts' correspondence sent to one address.

EDIT - I would also suggest that, if you can, you photograph the meter readings when you take over the new property so that you have some sort of proof you are not lying about the readings.

Elfbert

I would definitely suggest taking photos when you move in/take ownership! And definitely take photos when you move out, too - possibly go as far as putting a copy of the day's newspaper in with them

(I have suffered an 18 month battle with British Gas who were trying to bill for a property which had been demolished!! And yes, they had photos of the final readings...they had visited the site and seen the large crater...they still wanted paying!)

AlistairM

See this is why I asked you guys!


I knew there'd be potential caveats. I'll definitely be taking pictures then.

The house I'm moving to has overgrown bushes blocking access to the metre cupboard so first thing I do when I get the place is hack my way through to there for a photo