Moving house - Setting up utilities

steve808

I'm moving out of my parents into a freehold house I've bought next week.
The current owner is with Scottish Power for gas/elec, and Virgin Media for phone/tv.
What's the best way forward for me? Should I contact these companies and just switch them over to me? Would that then put me in a contract with them. Or should I just start brand new contracts with companies of my choice? Is it ok to do that before I've actually moved? (contracts have already exchanged).

Slithery

You will automatically be on a 'deemed contract' with the current gas and electricity suppliers when you move into the property. Ring them up to set up an account and submit your meter readings. Once you've done this you a free to switch to your chosen providers - as long as you don't agree to a new fixed term deal when setting up your initial accounts.

ARH_2

Start brand new contracts with companies who offer you the best deal.

Virgin may or may not be the best you you, and it will likely be cut off when the previous owner cancels it and moves out. Scottish power will automatically put you on their expensive tariff, so try to get off that sharpish. 

Yes you can start signing up for things (e.g. broadband, energy before completion), but make sure any go live date is after completion. 

PS. Congratulations on the move

greatcrested

steve808 said:

I'm moving out of my parents into a freehold house I've bought next week.

Have you Completed?

Have you Exchanged?

Or is 'next week' the proposed purchase date?

You should not take any acion on utilities till you actually own the propety. If you already own (ie Completed) then you should have already read the meters and contacted the current suppliers.

If you do not yet own, you should wait - your purchase might get delayed/fall through and you'll cause confusion as to who is liable for the bills.

That applies to Virgin too - you might end up cancelling the current owner's (seller's) contract, only for your purchase to fall through.

csgohan4

I only switched once I have the keys in my hand, checked the meter readings myself and called the utilities myself. Same with internet/phone. Things do and can go wrong and best to do it when you are 100% certain