New house will be empty on weekdays

need_an_answer

OP you are clearly very new to this forum and I agree that posts should always be polite on both sides.

However many questions can be easily resolved before the need for a post on a public forum with a little help from google or even asking a friend or relative for an answer

I suspect that even a forum search may have bought up a similar question in the past.

Occasionally the posters here don't always pitch their reply in perhaps the tone that the OP would like but rest assured GM is one of the most knowledgeable posters this board will come across.


and I note that when you did respond to his answer GM came back with a response.

Lets call it now and hopefully you have the answer to your question.

Sareteegee

CocoLouie wrote: »

Of course you will need to pay them. You will still be using the services so they won't be free. Even when you don't use some utilities there will be a standing charge as there is a cost associated with having things like electricity ready to use when you need it.


You might get a discount on the council tax but you might also be made pay more you will need to check your councils policy.

Thank you being polite and answering my question

Sareteegee

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I suppose you could cut the gas and electric off if you're not living there. Then you wouldn't have to pay. Dunno if you can do that with water? And council tax will depend on the council.

Thank you for being polite and answering my question

Sareteegee

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

My property is currently empty while it's being refurbed.

Yes, all the bills need to go in your name (I'm assuming you're not planning on having the services disconnected as you'll need them when you're there). You don't need to sign up for phone/internet/TV, so probably best waiting until you're about to move in for those.

I'd recommend signing up for paperless bills and/or direct debit--stops the mail piling up and you won't accidentally miss a bill if you can't get to the property for a few weeks. It's also a good idea to take meter readings as often as possible, as I've found that estimated bills tend to over-estimate your usage by a mile while the property's empty.

As others have said, council tax depends on your area. You do need to let them know you're the new owner, though, so they can apply whatever rules they have. In my area, we pay full council tax on empty properties, then pay a premium if it's empty for a certain number of months. If you were going to be the sole occupier or your partner is exempt, you wouldn't be able to get the single person discount until you actually move in either.

Thank you very much. This is really helpful.

Smodlet

"Originally Posted by Rosemary7391 View Post
I suppose you could cut the gas and electric off if you're not living there. Then you wouldn't have to pay. Dunno if you can do that with water? And council tax will depend on the council."

Or you could, of course, incur exit fees (to say nothing of a world of potential trouble when you/anyone else actually wants to live there) Do you even know who supplies your gas, electricity, water?

Slinky

Water companies (well Anglian at least) won't make standing charges if a property is unoccupied and you've informed them of such (just in case that's of any use to somebody in a similar situation).

AnotherJoe

Sareteegee wrote: »

Hi All,

We have just bought a house about 200 miles away from where we currently live. We are yet to get jobs in that area so the house will be empty in the week and we will be travelling back to the house every other weekend to gradually furnish the property.

Can anyone advise what I should do about bills: gas, electricity, water and council tax. Will we still have to pay them even though we are not fully living at the property?

Thanks in advance!

Nominated as stupid question of the year. No I retract that, the decade.

macman

Cutting off the gas and electricity is a daft idea, as the eventual reconnection charges will be considerable, and you will have no heat, light or power at weekends: rather limiting if you are intending to get any work done.
Just make sure you switch to an NSC gas and electricity tariff, and make sure that the water is switched to a metered supply, if not already metered.
As already mentioned, refer to your LA for their policy on CT for 2nd homes: mine offers no discount, and actually surcharges empty properties after 2 years by 50%.

Ozzuk

Why not get a lodger - you aren't there much to worry about privacy, the house will be safer (if they aren't an axe murderer), won't have to worry too much about pipes freezing. Even better find someone who only needs it during the week.

Nice way to make some extra cash and lower risk.

es5595

Check up the rules for single persons council tax, you may be able to claim that if one of you “moves” from your current location to your new location.
When looking at suppliers, I strongly recommend looking for one with no standing charge, the useage costs will be a little higher, but if you’re only there occasionally it will save you loads compared to a high standing charge every day.
Internet, assuming it’s not the middle of nowhere, look at adding some extra GB to your existing phone plan and as long as you’re not streaming movies, you should be ok and save on the £ for a broadband connection that you’ll hardly use.
I’d also recommend Hive, so you can remotely monitor the heating and hot water (and especially as winter approaches, warm the place before you arrive!), they also do door and window sensors which will give you peace of mind. Ring and Nest both do remote doorbells, and I’d also consider getting a camera so you can remotely monitor the house too.
All the best!