First time renter - help with utilities set up!!

Ashleighc01

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site so hopefully am doing this right!

I will be moving into my first rented property with my partner on 28th September (currently live with parents) and need some advise on what to do in regards to setting up utility bills.

I am going to get the keys at 9.30am.... what do I do after that? Who do I contact regarding the utility bills and how do I know who to contact??

I am totally clueless on what to do. Have read a few things online but am even more confused after reading!

Thanks for your help!

Ebe_Scrooge

First thing, check with the landlord that the gas & elecricity supply are still active - most likely they will be.


As soon as you get in, make sure you take meter readings and send them to the suppliers - you don't want to be charged for any arrears the previous tenants may have built up.


Initially you'll receive gas & electricity from whoever was supplying the previous tenants. Once you're in, then you're free to shop around for a better deal ...... that is, as long as the terms of your tenancy agreement permit it.

AndyPK

you have a deemed contract with the previous supplier, which will be their most expensive standard tariff


You can then move to a fixed price contract for 12 months either with that supplier (easy) or another supplier (more work)


Picking the cheapest deal is difficult as you won't know your usage, however any deal you select, fixed for 12 months, will be cheaper than staying on their standard expensive deal.


If you are still there after a year, you can use your usage deals, and select the cheapest supplier for you.

Cardew

I would get the landlord/letting agent to verify gas/electricity meter readings.

Also don't forget water meter reading(if you have a meter). In any case inform water company you are now the tenant.

matelodave

Make sure you read the meters yourself as soon as you get in (take photos if possible), do not rely on the landlord although it's worth making sure that he knows and agrees the readings and ideally get them put onto the rental agreement.

As said, you'll be in a contract with the existing supplier, so find out who it is and open an account with them, giving the readings and make sure you keep a record of them.

Once you've done that you can see about finding the cheapest deal. You won't know how much you'll use, but your guess is as good as anybody else's so use a comparison site or two and input around 13,000kwh for gas and around 3500kwh for leccy.

It will be near enough for you to see what deals are around and roughly how much your bills will be.