Moving house question

Rokitron

I am moving house soon and was wondering, when i move into my new house do i have to stay with my current energy provider or can i just start a new account up with someone else?

olly300

Before you move in ask the current occupants who supplies the property.

Then on the day you move in take meter readings and phone up the companies who currently supply the property. (If you can't phone them then email them.)

The utility companies will open an account in your name with your meter readings.

After one billing cycle find who you want to change to and go through the process of changing to that supplier.

If you don't do this you could be:
1. charged for the previous occupants use of the utilties
2. cause problems for yourself over suppliers as there is a delay of 6-8 weeks in changing supplier on a property.

When you move into a new property and take over the supply from someone else you are in a "deemed contract" this by law means you have to pay for what you use whether you give the utility supplier your name and meter readings or not. The cost of energy on "deemed contract" is higher than any companies standard charges.

Terrylw1

Hi,

Once you tale legal ownership or tenancy of a property you are allowed to switch Suppliers if you wish.

As Olly says, take your readings the day you move in and also on any day where you change Suppliers or expect to have problems with estimates.

Whilst the process to transfer takes 6-8 weeks (although behind the scenes it takes nowhere near this, it's more to do with the volume of consumers switching) you will agree to a handover date. This could be the same week as you move in. You will need to still set up an acount with the current properties Supplier as Olly says though.