Utility Bills - Confused and need clarity?

K9COOP

Afternoon all. Just a quick one but no amount of searching the WWW or this site gave me clarity.

My Grandma recently passed away this week.

She was with
SSE - Gas
SSE - Electric
Yorkshire Water - Water

I am not an executor but supporting my Mum to sort the bills out.
My Grandma has a house which is paid for outright. The house is being given to my Mum 50% and uncle 50% in the will. Both my Mum and uncle are executors on the will (I have not seen the will yet but My mum has confirmed this is the case)

We would like to keep the utility turned on in the house until we decide what we want to do with it longer term. Rent/Sell e.t.c

I have the current meter readings for all 3 utility but have not contacted anyone yet.
I suspect the accounts based on the bills I have will be in credit upto around £400 across the 3 Utility. I know I need to get final bills and have the credit put back into the estate.

What is the best way and who should be doing it? To keep all 3 utility switched on in the house?
Nobody really minds paying for it myself included we would just prefer to keep them on.

Separately the t&c's of Home insurance says that Gas/Electric should be off in the house? My thoughts are to cancel this policy which is paid up and get one with the correct coverage but the lady in the bank claims "Nobody would insure an empty property with Gas/Electric on"? I Find this incredibly hard to believe so have requested the T&C's of the policy in place to make a more informed decision going forward.

Thoughts?
thanks in advance.

Flugelhorn

I had similar earlier this year - weather was foul so heating had to be on!

I rang each company and told them what had happened, they were very helpful, estimated the usage to the date of death and sent some refunds and one bill and basically said "contact us when you have probate" etc and they didn't hassle for payment.

I insured the property (continued mother's SAGA policy) - they just wanted to make sure someone was checking the house weekly (a neighbour does this) - all services are still connected

SevenOfNine

Use the SSE bereavement line https://www.sse.co.uk/help/bills-and-paying/bereavement-support#item1 IGNORE all the other 'help' you find there, you only need to correct process for the energy supply when you call the number.

Ordinarily (3 times now, & it's been 3 too many!), the energy supplier would leave it 'connected', but the account is suspended, the supplies are not cut off. The bills would be addressed to "executor of the estate of granny", or something similar to that & c/o the executor's address.

We were told NOT to pay any bills we received, they were info only & we had to keep the energy supplier informed of when probate/letters of administration where obtained, & after that when the property was sold.

Only then did they need final meter readings, produce a final bill, & send it to the estate. For money owed a refund was given.

None of the houses buildings/contents insurance required us to turn off the gas/electric. In fact we had to keep the heating on low (so low at this time of year it wouldn't be kicking in anyway). We did have a lamp on a timer upstairs for a bit of security - not that anyone breaking in would be fooled.

Insurance was severely limited though, as the properties were empty, more 'not' covered than covered! But there is an obligation for executors to ensure the property is insured. No insurer failed to continue insuring either, just with the limited criteria set up. One even renewed when the existing policy expired.

Water board (not Yorkshire but I've a mind to think they all do the same). From notifying them following the death, the account was closed. They advised us that everything used was free from that point up until house was actually sold & to let them know when this happened.

We did use more water, I forgot myself & each time we went to the house I flushed the loo just to 'turn the water over', also had a leak in an old outside toilet so even more was used! Oops.

We'd given them a meter reading on date of death (or thereabouts), & because I am honest I called to advise them of the final reading once house sold - but they did not charge us for it.

Make sure you've told the council, no council tax due & further 6 months free from date of probate/LoA - assuming no-one is living there.

"The lady in the bank" who told you no-one would insure a property with the gas/electric turned on is a tw @t. It's more likely that insurance would be more difficult if you disconnected it. Insurers don't differentiate between the seasons & they don't want burst pipes, hence they may tell you they want the heating on (& may even specify a tempreture).

https://yorkshirewater.com/contactus That doesn't look hard.

I did a lot of the work for the executor on our most recent loss, though he did have to phone first then give them permission to speak to me (he's a bit hard of hearing).

Dox

K9COOP wrote: »

Separately the t&c's of Home insurance says that Gas/Electric should be off in the house? My thoughts are to cancel this policy which is paid up and get one with the correct coverage but the lady in the bank claims "Nobody would insure an empty property with Gas/Electric on"? I Find this incredibly hard to believe so have requested the T&C's of the policy in place to make a more informed decision going forward.

Utter rubbish. Most policies require you to ensure the heating is on during the winter period and I've yet to see one which requires you to turn utilities off at any time of year.

badger09

Here my recent experience as executor for my late sister’s estate:

Gas & Electricity EON: account now in my name as executor & I manage online
I’ve paid one bill from estate funds.

Phone BT: account now in my name as executor & I manage online. Account in credit at last bill date. I will pay anything due from estate funds

SW Water: account now in my name as executor & I manage online. Metered, I will pay anything due from estate funds

House Insurance Churchill: they are happy to continue cover under existing T&C, with additional excess, providing property is inspected by a responsible adult, once week. Anything of value has been removed but it’s still furnished. If it is still empty between October & March there are additional requirements the central heating & water, but I’m hoping to have sold it before then.

I have to say, I’ve found all the providers above have been very helpful, especially Churchill. Oh YES:o

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

badger09 wrote: »

Here my recent experience as executor for my late sister’s estate:

Gas & Electricity EON: account now in my name as executor & I manage online
I’ve paid one bill from estate funds.

Phone BT: account now in my name as executor & I manage online. Account in credit at last bill date. I will pay anything due from estate funds

SW Water: account now in my name as executor & I manage online. Metered, I will pay anything due from estate funds

House Insurance Churchill: they are happy to continue cover under existing T&C, with additional excess, providing property is inspected by a responsible adult, once week. Anything of value has been removed but it’s still furnished. If it is still empty between October & March there are additional requirements the central heating & water, but I’m hoping to have sold it before then.

I have to say, I’ve found all the providers above have been very helpful, especially Churchill. Oh YES:o

Hello badger09 and please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your sister.

You probably already know but, just in case, we've a dedicated Bereavement Support team who look after situations where the account holder has passed away. Details of what they do and how to contact them are on our website.

They'll make sure all the necessary actions are taken and keep you up to date with what's happening. They'll ask for a copy of the death certificate, close the account and put it into the name of the executors. They'll let you know about any balances and what to expect if the estate is going through probate. They'll also give you a direct phone number so you don't need to contact different areas of the business.

From what you say, it looks like much of this has been done and sorry if I'm telling you something you already know. If not, hope it helps a little.

Malc

badger09

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hello badger09 and please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your sister.

You probably already know but, just in case, we've a dedicated Bereavement Support team who look after situations where the account holder has passed away. Details of what they do and how to contact them are on our website.

They'll make sure all the necessary actions are taken and keep you up to date with what's happening. They'll ask for a copy of the death certificate, close the account and put it into the name of the executors. They'll let you know about any balances and what to expect if the estate is going through probate. They'll also give you a direct phone number so you don't need to contact different areas of the business.

From what you say, it looks like much of this has been done and sorry if I'm telling you something you already know. If not, hope it helps a little.

Malc

Thanks Malc

Yes, I submitted the Bereavement Notification and meter readings online.

I haven't been asked for a copy of the death certificate.

It was a bit unnerving to receive an email reply addressed 'Hello P****' my late sister's first name:cool: but apart from that its been a smooth process so far.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

badger09 wrote: »

Thanks Malc

Yes, I submitted the Bereavement Notification and meter readings online.

I haven't been asked for a copy of the death certificate.

It was a bit unnerving to receive an email reply addressed 'Hello P****' my late sister's first name:cool: but apart from that its been a smooth process so far.

Sorry about badger09. I can well understand how upsetting that would be.

Other than that, I'm glad things have gone relatively smoothly. Should any issue arise please go directly to our Bereavement Support team as above. They're definitely the best placed ones to advise in these situations.

Sorry again for the tactless email badger09.

Malc