British Gas - Do not require gas

Scot_39

The gas standing charge alone is not £18pm.

The current levels just for gas are £101 DD to £131 Prepay ex vat per year - so under £9 to £11.50 per month on a  standard variable tariff domestic supply.


And by not paying that - if network operator does disconnect - incurring reconnection charges in the region of many times that level if father returns and want gas heating again or need to sell to cover fees as empty.

And in a couple of years you may not be able to do so.

Strikes me your in a classic mode of saving the pennies now to in end potentially cost your dad or his estate a fortune.


Your dad almost certainly owes all those past new occupier SC demands - its not about use of gas - its for having the meter and an active connection available. 

Turning the isolator valve off does not stop that if thats the same type as was in my parents house.  You could as easily just turn it back again. 

You could see if a company like Utilita (there were a few more in lists from a few years ago)  who roll SC into initial daily units - if will take your father's now empty  property on. 
But they may also need some minimum use - either in T&Cs and be unwilling to accept very low use long term users - as they as supplier have to recover costs as they will be paying the SC to network operators.

And as others point out almost any insurer will still insist on a minimum level of heat - they do even if occupied - some more explicitly so if empty. Some just woolly e.g. to avoid frost damage  - others explicit min in T&Cs - 12C not uncommon according to Which policy reviews a few years back.

How are you planning on keeping property damp free frost free etc over winter ?

Have you isolated the water supply and drained any tanks, pipes and gas central heating too - as many do for long term absences - e.g. wintering overseas.

And I assume the house insurer has been informed it is now I guess by any reasonable standard domestic insurers definition long term empty - as if not - might no longer be covered.

And occupied means living there, sleeping, eating etc for majority of week for often weeks between absence etc.  - not popping in for an hour or two to check - assuming you or another sibbling / friend are even doing so - occassionally.

wrf12345

He probably does not want the hassle but lack of gas needs to be balanced by, super-insulation, solar panels and heat pumps, which may be free depending on income, etc., and will probably appeal to about a third of house buyers who have got their heads around things modern.

ArbitraryRandom

As this is a money saving site - while the house is unoccupied and the owner is an older/vulnerable person, there may be more grants available to get work done now if needed than at a future point. 

Might be worth considering if it's of benefit to the estate to take advantage of any possible increase in the value of the property with improved heating and insulation? 

Obviously you would need to check in the terms and conditions of any scheme if your relative is eligible given they do not intend to move back into the property after the works are completed. 

markin

Have you been giving readings? Or are the bills estimated use so higher than just standing charge!

QrizB

markin said:

Have you been giving readings? Or are the bills estimated use so higher than just standing charge!

I'm wondering if we'll ever hear from the original poster again!

eroded2

Thanks for the advice all. 

It sounds like it will be better to create a new account and pay the standing charge then, to avoid any complications upon sale. We have no plans to sell the property any time soon, if I had to guess it would be in the 2 - 5 year range, meaning a cost of a few hundred pounds to keep the supply active.

Bigphil1474

OP, good plan. I recently sold my dads house after he passed away in August last year. We needed the heating on minimum over the winter, but fortunately didn't cost too much. Hopefully your dad will be back home at some point. 

Worth checking what the house insurance requires while it is empty. I set up what was basically an empty house insurance policy, which required regular checks on the property. We kept a note book near the door so whoever called in could tick some boxes to say it had been checked.