Help with completion

Darren91

Hi all,

The completion date for my house has changed and will be earlier than expected, which is very exciting! We're now going to complete on the 18th. Only issue is that my building insurance, water, electricity etc are all booked for the 29th when we were originally going to complete.

What do I do? Will it be okay to use water and electricity before the 29th? I don't want to get into trouble.

lewishardwick

You'll need to take meter reading on completion day to ensure you only pay for what you use. Even if you move in a week later, as long as you give them the reading from the 18th you'll pay for what you use.

Building insurance will need to be adjusted, it's no doubt a condition of your mortgage.

Remember you legally own the property on completion so you're responsible for all associated running costs. Don't forget council tax! I don't think any local authorities have discounts for unoccupied residential properties any more...

Dan-Dan

Darren91 wrote: »

Hi all,

The completion date for my house has changed and will be earlier than expected, which is very exciting! We're now going to complete on the 18th. Only issue is that my building insurance, water, electricity etc are all booked for the 29th when we were originally going to complete.

What do I do? Will it be okay to use water and electricity before the 29th? I don't want to get into trouble.

This should have been booked to coincide with exchange not completion

Darren91

It was to coincide with exchange, but the date has changed.

G_M

Changed how? Had you Exchanged?

If yes - seems strange the Completion date changed.

If no, how can you have 'booked' those facilities?

Darren91

We haven't exchanged yet, but my solicitor needed me to book my building insurance in advance of exchange, so I booked it from the 29th the planned date, but now my solicitor says we are ready to exchange and be ready for the 18th. We've also informed the water company of our moving in date being the 29th, but now it'll be the 18th.

lewishardwick

So are you exchanging or completing on the 18th?

Darren91

Completing

Darren91

As far as I knew they intended to exchange and complete on the same day, now I realise this probably isn't the case and I've mucked up. None of this was explained to me properly, my solicitor just said I needed to get my house insurance booked (and we didn't even have an exchange date by then).

I hate knowing nothing about buying a house. Anyway, I'll ring the insurance and water companies now then.

G_M

Well, you've now found out why it is premature to make any plans/arrangements before you exchange!

Yes - shop around for insurance & decide which company to go with. but don't actually buy the insurance till the day you Exchange.

As for utilities, again - you've jumped the gun. as you have found out, until Exchange, dates are all changeable.

You'll have to speak to all those companies and sort out whatever commitments you've made.

pinkteapot

Insurance starts from exchange. Utilities start from completion.

There's usually no need to contact the utlities before completion. You just arrive on the day, TAKE METER READINGS (essential), and then phone the utilities to say you've moved in, open an account, and give them the opening readings. It doesn't even matter if it's the same day. I've phoned 2-3 days after completion and that's been fine.

You wouldn't pay for the utilities from exchange as they vendor is still using them until completion.