Moving to a flat with 'terminated gas' - what next?!

rhombus20

Hello! This might be a completely daft question:

I'm about to complete on a property purchase (FTB) and it's a vacant property being sold by a trust fund. The property has a gas connection and a meter that supplies gas to a combi boiler, but the vendor's have terminated the service with - I think - British Gas (this is who I've deduced is the supplier from Findmysupplier). Does this mean no gas will be available the day I get the keys?! If I restart the service with British Gas will I automatically go onto a contract with them? I'd like switch to an alternative provider as soon as I can. 

Thank you!

MWT

If the meter is still there then BG are the existing supplier and you will have to register with them before you can switch to your preferred supplier.

Anyanka1

Have they "terminated" the deal with BG or have they had the gas disconnected?  I would want to know while there is time to do something about it.  If the gas supply is still current (and what about the electricity?) then you will be in a "deemed" contract with whoever is the supplier on the date you move in.  As soon as you give them meter readings (which I advise you to take the moment you walk in the door, ideally as a picture with your phone) you can start the process of switching.

Good luck with your move.

rhombus20

Anyanka1 said:

Have they "terminated" the deal with BG or have they had the gas disconnected?  I would want to know while there is time to do something about it.  If the gas supply is still current (and what about the electricity?) then you will be in a "deemed" contract with whoever is the supplier on the date you move in.  As soon as you give them meter readings (which I advise you to take the moment you walk in the door, ideally as a picture with your phone) you can start the process of switching.

Good luck with your move.

Thanks! The vendor's solicitors have said "connection, but no service" and under 'provider' they've said "terminated" - I had to look up the provider. There are gas facilities, as that's the heating source. I'm hoping that since it's listed on www.findmysupplier.energy that it's just a case of a phone call... as you say, take note of the meter reading immediately!

brewerdave

The vendors cannot terminate the agreement until the property sale completes. Someone has to be registered for the supply UNLESS the meter has been removed and the gas supply physically terminated ,usually outside the boundary. 
Make sure you take the gas meter reading as soon as you enter the property and take photos, as it isn't unknown for sellers to sting the incoming homeowner for usage between occupations!!

MWT

brewerdave said:

The vendors cannot terminate the agreement until the property sale completes...

There is the seldom used exception that if you do not use the supply at all from the moment you take control then the deemed contract has not been entered into and there is no standing charge to be paid, it is possible that this is what they have done.

... but even then it has not been 'terminated' it just never started in the first place.

Anyanka1

OP, is there any way you can arrange for another viewing and try turning on a hot tap or even the boiler to find out if there is or is not a gas supply?  That's what I would do, fwiw.

Please let us know how you got on on moving day when you get the chance.

Ectophile

I would assume that "terminated" means that British Gas have visited the property and turned off the gas supply.  That's the only way the sellers can avoid paying a daily standing charge until you move in.

That means that you won't be able to turn on the heating the day you move in.  You will need to contact British Gas and ask them to turn the supply back on.

Farway

Anyanka1 said:

OP, is there any way you can arrange for another viewing and try turning on a hot tap or even the boiler to find out if there is or is not a gas supply?  That's what I would do, fwiw.

Please let us know how you got on on moving day when you get the chance.

If you can revisit then easier still, look at the gas meter, still there or not?

MWT

Ectophile said:

I would assume that "terminated" means that British Gas have visited the property and turned off the gas supply.  That's the only way the sellers can avoid paying a daily standing charge until you move in.

That means that you won't be able to turn on the heating the day you move in.  You will need to contact British Gas and ask them to turn the supply back on.

Not without removing the meter though, if that is still there then the supply has not been capped which means the standing charge still applies.

phillw

MWT said:
Not without removing the meter though, if that is still there then the supply has not been capped which means the standing charge still applies.

Does this apply to smart meters that can be remotely deactivated?