Can switching utility bills wait?

Froudeez

Hi, sorry for the long winded question. 

Me and my partner have found a new house that we would like to rent. It's all in progress at the moment and we should be getting the keys on 28th August. (although that can be changed) 

The next rent payment at our current house is 7th September and there's no way we will move in by then. So i was thinking of giving notice that will will be out by 6th October.

That gives us a month and a few days to move bits over. We probably won't need gas and electric or water until our beds are in and we are living and sleeping there, which will be nearer 6th October. 

SO my question is do we have to let utility bills know we are moving when we get the keys? Is that classed as our move in date or can it wait until we are actually using gas electric etc? 

Thanks and sorry if I've worded it confusingly!! 

davidmcn

The sellers are not going to carry on paying the bills for you after it becomes your house, are they? Remember tariffs tend to include standing charges whether or not you're actually using anything. So you take meter readings as soon as you get the keys, you take over new accounts with the vendors' existing suppliers, and then can switch (or not) whenever you like.

Morbier

Would the same apply to tenants?  The OP mentioned they're renting. 🤪

As a renter myself, I would advise you to read the meters (and take photos if possible) on the first day of your new tenancy.  If you're intending to carry on with your current supplier, give them a call and let them know the situation. It might help to have a firm date for the move, although you must bear in mind that when you actually move is not relevant - you are responsible for the utility bills right up until the last day of your old tenancy and responsible for the utility bills from the first day of your new tenancy.

(Also take photos and read the meters on the last day of your old tenancy). 

greatcrested

You remain liable for the utilities on your current property until the tenancy is properly ended. On that date, you read the meters, contact the suppliers, and close the account.

You will be liable for the utilities on new property from the date the tenancy starts. On that date, you read the meters, contact the suppliers, and open the account.

If there is an overlap, you are liable for both.

For the avoidance of doubt:

The next rent payment at our current house is 7th September and there's no way we will move in by then. So i was thinking of giving notice that will will be out by 6th October.

Rent payment date is irrelevant.

* is it a fixed term contract. If yes, what exact dates?

* or is it periodic? If yes, what are the tenancy period dates?

* if periodic, is it contractual or statutory (see below)?

Post 4: Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

eddddy

Morbier said:

If you're intending to carry on with your current supplier, give them a call and let them know the situation.

It doesn't really work like that - you don't take your gas and electricity suppliers from your old house to your new house.

Instead, you contact whoever supplies gas and electricity to the new house - and you set up an account with them. You can then investigate changing suppliers if you want (e.g. to the suppliers who happened to supply your old house).

Similarly, you tell your suppliers who supply your old house that you are moving out, so the account needs to be closed.

There's no problem if there's an overlap - i.e. you have accounts for the old house and for the new house for a month or so.

Froudeez

Thank you guys and thanks eddddy that's what I was trying to say if there would be a problem if it overlaps a month or so, I'm just bad at wording it lol! 

Morbier

eddddy said:

It doesn't really work like that - you don't take your gas and electricity suppliers from your old house to your new house.

Sorry, I stand corrected!  

I thought the new supplier would take over from the old one (that is if you were carrying on with same supplier after the move) and that they would organise the switch?  Why did I think that? - because I thought that's what I did when I moved to my current address. Perhaps things have changed since then?  It's been a while .....

AdrianC

Froudeez said:

Me and my partner have found a new house that we would like to rent. It's all in progress at the moment and we should be getting the keys on 28th August. (although that can be changed) 

The next rent payment at our current house is 7th September and there's no way we will move in by then.

There's "no way" you can move home in 11 days?