Transitioning into new house

kisaki757

Hi all, really silly question but can't get my head around it and since I'm a FTB and don't have any family to ask, I turn to you again...

I am currently renting a flat and will soon (hopefully) be buying my first house. Regardless of what the exchange date will be, there will be an overlap of at least one month between my renting the flat and owning the home. Mostly because there is a bit of work to be done on the house. How does this work for things like electric bills or internet contracts etc?

In the past, every time I moved (from one rental to another) there was never an overlap. So I simply told the electric company "I'm moving on xx date" and they would transfer the contract over. Same for all other bills. How does it work in case of an overlap? Note for the initial part of the overlap I will still be living in the rental and then gradually move over to the house.

GrumpyDil

You'll be liable to pay the bills on both properties, noting that includes council tax as well.

On your new house you will have a deemed supply contract for gas and electric with the existing provider - if you are on a decent fix on your existing property you may be able to carry the fix to the new house when your tenancy on the flat ends but that is down to the terms of your existing supplier and I think is pretty rare. 

housebuyer143

You next to pay the overlap. You might get council tax exemption if it's empty and u furnished for a short time, but gas and stuff you will need to pay standing charges. 
It takes about a month to move your tariff so that might help you if you are on a good one. 
I don't think it's rare you can take your fixed tariff. I am on an insanely good fx with British gas until 2024 and they moved it with no complaints. 

newsgroupmonkey_

GrumpyDil said:

You'll be liable to pay the bills on both properties, noting that includes council tax as well.

On your new house you will have a deemed supply contract for gas and electric with the existing provider - if you are on a decent fix on your existing property you may be able to carry the fix to the new house when your tenancy on the flat ends but that is down to the terms of your existing supplier and I think is pretty rare. 

Write to the council. They gave us 30 days grace.

SavingPennies_2

GrumpyDil said:

You'll be liable to pay the bills on both properties, noting that includes council tax as well.

On your new house you will have a deemed supply contract for gas and electric with the existing provider - if you are on a decent fix on your existing property you may be able to carry the fix to the new house when your tenancy on the flat ends but that is down to the terms of your existing supplier and I think is pretty rare. 

I'm not sure this is correct regarding council tax, I did the same thing as the OP fairly recently and I didn't pay twice, I spoke to someone at the council and they just switched it over on the day I "officially" moved in, although there was a overlap of a month where I had both the rented and bought property but was between the two moving stuff and decorating. With utilities I took readings on the day I got the keys/ completed and then a month or so later when I moved in called them up with the date and readings. They don't transfer accounts they essentially close the old one on the rental and open a new account on the bought property. So yes for a short time I was paying both but other than standing charges it didn't work out much more expensive as you don't use two lots of electricity and water etc.

kisaki757

Thanks all! Yes, no worries about paying for both properties for the overlap, I don't mind that. I am more confused about how do I do that since I have only one contract which I guess can only supply one property? Or can they bill me for 2 properties under a single contract? I think council tax is different, if I tell them they might give us a grace period like a previous poster said. But what about things like energy (sadly no fixed tariff...) and water?

user1977

kisaki757 said:

Thanks all! Yes, no worries about paying for both properties for the overlap, I don't mind that. I am more confused about how do I do that since I have only one contract which I guess can only supply one property? Or can they bill me for 2 properties under a single contract? I think council tax is different, if I tell them they might give us a grace period like a previous poster said. But what about things like energy (sadly no fixed tariff...) and water?

You have separate contracts for each property.