New build purchase while still renting

bendtner52

I've done a fair bit of reading of other threads on the forum and the common consensus around switching homes is that it's sensible to try and transfer your current tariff.

However, I'm in a scenario where I'm going to still have my rental for several months after completion (possibly up to 6) due to my partner's job commitments while we switch location, so will barely use the new build until we move. I've made the presumption I can't apply my existing tariff to multiple properties at once based on reading various provider websites, though I may be wrong on this. 

Does anyone know if my only effective option here to sign up to a new tariff with a chosen provider for the new build? In which case I guess given we're only going to use the property on a very limited basis we've pretty much just got to suck up whatever the standing charges now are and keep everything off when we're not in to limit costs.

Any help massively appreciated!!  

MWT

bendtner52 said:

Does anyone know if my only effective option here to sign up to a new tariff with a chosen provider for the new build? In which case I guess given we're only going to use the property on a very limited basis we've pretty much just got to suck up whatever the standing charges now are and keep everything off when we're not in to limit costs.

Any help massively appreciated!!  

Yes, that is the first thing you would do even if your current supplier is willing to transfer the tariff (most are not).

So you will have to sign up with the current supplier there anyway, just make sure you stay on the capped variable tariff, do not pick a fixed tariff.

You'll probably need to do that by phone as the web sign-ups often do not offer the variable option.

jbuchanangb

When you take over a property you automatically become a customer of whichever supplier already supplies it. A new build property will be supplied by a company chosen by the builder. Even if you can talk the supplier of your current property into supplying your new one, you still need to register with the incumbent supplier at the new place, before your existing supplier initiates the switch. When I did that it took 17 days for the switch to take place, and although I was back with my old supplier, I was not on the old tariff; I had to take whatever their new best tariff happened to be. Nowadays the new best tariff will be the Standard Variable Rate, which will be identical to that of the incumbent supplier, so there will be nothing to gain.

bendtner52

Thanks very much to both of you for your extremely insightful responses on this!

markin

New homes are wet and takes 6 months to a year to dry out, don't turn off any ventilation systems and you should probably keep it heated to at least 12c.