Changing utility suppliers

chowells17

My son is due to complete his first house purchase on January 8th. When should he be looking at changing utilities?
Can he do this prior to completion or does he have to wait until he actually moves?
Thank you in advance

anselld

On completion he must open an account initially with the pre-existing suppliers at the new property.  Give them the opening readings on completion day.  Get the cheapest tariff which does not have a fixed duration tie-in.

Thereafter he can switch providers whenever he likes.

badger09

chowells17 said:

My son is due to complete his first house purchase on January 8th. When should he be looking at changing utilities?
Can he do this prior to completion or does he have to wait until he actually moves?
Thank you in advance

Has he actually exchanged yet? He can't do anything before that.

Our buyers have started taking over our utilities from our completion date 8th Jan, but we exchanged 18th December so I wasn't too surprised. Your son could do the same, or just wait until he moves in. Some utilities take longer than others to set up & current owners will probably have started their 'we're leaving' process if exchange has taken place.

pinkteapot

You don't need to do anything with regard to utilities between exchange and completion. I always just phone the existing suppliers within a few days of moving in, giving them meter readings, and opening accounts. They've never taken long to set up. 

For things like phone, internet, Sky etc it's useful to order as soon as you've exchanged as those do have a lead-time. 

As someone else said, I always refuse to go onto a tariff with a tie-in so I can then shop around and switch once I'm unpacked and settled and have more time. 

Mutton_Geoff

Make a note of the readings so the outgoing owners are responsible for their own consumption. Then in a week or two after completion use the same readings for the new supplier. It's quite feasible the house has been empty since completion and/or utilities not used. That way you pay the new suppliers rate for all consumption since occupation except the daily charge which will change on the date the new supplier kicks in.

giraffe69

Not just make a note of readings but take a photo when you move in, in case of any problem later.