Help! I need temporary utilities for a property I bought to sell on

tonyC123

Hello All.

I've recently bought a property to develop and sell on and am looking to get utilities (Gas, Water and Electricity) turned on plus register for council tax. Previous Company was nPower (they have left Meter Change rectification cards at the property), but it's seemingly not an option to simply go onto their web-site and register. This I think is due to the web-site being set up to take applications from people who are moving into the property. I will not be moving in. The builders are going in to renovate then it will go on the market to sell. I can't find any help on line about this, but it can't be a unique situation. Any developers out there willing to provide some helpful advice? I suspect it's a case of picking up the phone to all the relevant utilities though...sadly. Thanks in advance.

Tiners

A property developer who is unwilling/unable to pick up a phone to the relevant utility companies... just how little work do you expect to do in your (I'm guessing newly found) career as a property development entrepreneur?

Given your lack of experience and reticence to do even the most basic of tasks good luck achieving a quick flip and a juicy profit in the current market.

katebl

Why would you not just register them in your name, doesn't matter if you're not living there, you are still responsible for the usage?!

00ec25

pick up the phone and talk, just like you will have to talk to HMRC when you register your property development trading profits for income tax

meg00

You will need to inform the utilities , including water supplier, that you are the new owner. This will involve ringing the companies, giving them the meter readings and having the accounts changed to your name. Expect to wait ages for your calls to be answered, and take a note of the name of the person you spoke to. If they are pre-paid meters, I suggest you get your suppliers to change them to regular meters.
Councils vary in what they charge while the property is being renovated, it could be anything between nothing to 150% of council tax. You will need to speak to them.
Also, if you are putting it up for sale after renovation, be aware that most high street mortgage providers will not lend on a property which has not been owned for less than 6 months.
Good luck.

Doozergirl

You deal with it just as if you are moving in. If it's owned by a company, it goes in the company name. If you own it personally, it goes in yours.

There's nothing different to moving in or having a second home. You pay utilities as normal and council tax as per the LA's policy on empty homes.

3card

I have just changed over the utilities suppliers on a flat i rent out and did it all by using the live chat on the utilities websites.

Simple and straightforward

G_M

I think maybe OP is hoping he can register the utilities in the name of his contractors?

After all, they are the ones who'll be there using all that juice to power their tools and all that water to make their tea........

AlexMac

Never, in my experience of my last half-dozen purchases of properties either as homes or BTLs, have the gas, electricity or water companies actually disconnected the utililities. So you could, cynically, just take meter readings (maybe with timestamped photos?) then do nothing until they contact you as "the new occupier" asking for cash.

And most Councils have a contact centre or email...

Simples

Owain_Moneysaver

If you do nothing you will eventually be pursued for repayment at the standard tariff, which is usually the most expensive.

Anyone here would know to get on at least a direct debit with paperless billing!

Doozergirl

G_M wrote: »

I think maybe OP is hoping he can register the utilities in the name of his contractors?

After all, they are the ones who'll be there using all that juice to power their tools and all that water to make their tea........

Please tell me that's a tongue I see in your cheek?