Moving house council tax/ unifies

Kazzam1984

Hello moving on Friday. I have emailed the council to say we are moving into the area and will need council tax billing set up . In terms of water/ gas/ electric do I keep the supplier the current occupants have or can I sign up to new utilities providers? As I won't know about usage 
Thanks 

MaryNB

You don't have a choice of water supplier. With regards to gas and electric you have to sign up with the current supplier and once that's set up you can switch. You don't need to know usage, you just need to give them the meter readings the day you move in. Your estimated usage will likely be based on the previous occupants' usage but will be adjusted as time goes on as long as you give frequent meter readings.

You don't need to set up the utility accounts until the day you have moved in. You can usually do it online once you've taken the meter readings.

Robin9

Don't forget the same things on moving out  

Irishpearce26

Council tax - Billed from the day you complete.

Water - One supplier for your region (no change)

Gas/Electric - You have to stay with them for 21 days (minimum) on standard tariff, use a comparison site to find the best deal and the new supplier will take care of the switch over. Your bills for this month will seem high due to the standard tariff.

Usage is irrelevant as its what YOU use not the previous occupants, the cost is based on unit. Get the best tariff per unit.

TripleH

Don't forget home and building insurance (from completion).

MaryNB

TripleH said:

Don't forget home and building insurance (from completion).

It's needed from exchange.

PRAISETHESUN

As above - contact the council/utility providers on the day you take responsibility for the property to inform them all you are the new owner/occupant and are responsible for future bills. Provide opening meter readings so you cannot be billed for the previous occupants usage. For electricity/gas, once you've contacted the incumbent supplier(s) you're then free to switch away, or negotiate a better deal than the standard tariff you'll most likely be put on if you'd prefer.

TripleH

MaryNB said:

TripleH said:

Don't forget home and building insurance (from completion).

It's needed from exchange.

Thank you for that. I thought it was only from completion as the previous owner would be occupying the property and your ownership would only start from when you completed (I assumed exchange meant you were legally bound to buy the property but didn't technically own it).

That has saved me making an error in future, much appreciated MaryNB.

(Edit : have only owned flats before and exchanged and completed on the same day).

MaryNB

TripleH said:

MaryNB said:

TripleH said:

Don't forget home and building insurance (from completion).

It's needed from exchange.

Thank you for that. I thought it was only from completion as the previous owner would be occupying the property and your ownership would only start from when you completed (I assumed exchange meant you were legally bound to buy the property but didn't technically own it).

That has saved me making an error in future, much appreciated MaryNB.

(Edit : have only owned flats before and exchanged and completed on the same day).

My solicitor wouldn't let me exchange without it. I believe some lenders require it from exchange in order to release the mortgage funds. The concern is that even if the house burns down after exchange, you still have to complete. I'm not sure what happens with regards to insurance during this period - whether it's the seller or buyer that claims but obviously for the sake of about £100 it's better to be safe than sorry. 

TripleH

Yes, makes sense.

Antman27

MaryNB said:

TripleH said:

MaryNB said:

TripleH said:

Don't forget home and building insurance (from completion).

It's needed from exchange.

Thank you for that. I thought it was only from completion as the previous owner would be occupying the property and your ownership would only start from when you completed (I assumed exchange meant you were legally bound to buy the property but didn't technically own it).

That has saved me making an error in future, much appreciated MaryNB.

(Edit : have only owned flats before and exchanged and completed on the same day).

My solicitor wouldn't let me exchange without it. I believe some lenders require it from exchange in order to release the mortgage funds. The concern is that even if the house burns down after exchange, you still have to complete. I'm not sure what happens with regards to insurance during this period - whether it's the seller or buyer that claims but obviously for the sake of about £100 it's better to be safe than sorry. 

Halifax have told me it should be in place at the time of exchange as the buyer becomes responsible for the property. So if there is an insurance event between exchange and completion, I think it is the buyer that will need to claim from their insurance.