Moving into new flat what do i do?

theboss4

Hi

I have just bought a flat and will be moving in shortly, but I have no idea what to do with regards to electricity and water? I see lots of help about changing suppliers, but cant find anything on getting a supplier. There is electricity on in the flat at the moment but who is paying? Who do i phone? How do i choose a supplier? We were told it is Economy 10, whatever that is?

Sorry for the stupid questions.

mute_posting

As it is economy 10 I assume that it is electric heating (either storage heaters or a "wet-electric" system - like a combi boiler but run on electric instead of gas)

As the electricity is already on to the property, you will be deemed to have become contracted with the current supplier for any used after the final readings from previous owner (should be the same as your opening readings) - I think that if the is a small discrepency (say a few units) this is ignored.

Of course you are free to change supplier, I'm just saying that whichever company supplied the previous owner will supply you to start with.

If the water is not metered you need to phone the water company and open an account in your name givin them the date you moved in. If it is metered, phone water company and privide meter reading to open the account - again, I think they will ignore a small discrepancy - but I wouldn't try pushing it!

HTH

MP

theboss4

thanks it did help, cheers.

Is there an easy way to find the current supplier?, as I dont have anything that says who it is.

Yes, they are storage heaters.

I'm not sure if the water is metered, any way to find out in the property?

Thanks.

whatatwit

Is this a new build, if so then ask the site agents. If you are buying off the current owner, then ask them or get your solicitor to enquire.

Re the water, if it is a new build, then it is likely to be metered. again check with your solicitor.

mute_posting

You'll probably have letters coming through soon if the previous occupant has phoned through their final readings and closed their accounts.

If not I believe that you can provide the meter reference number (MPAN) which may be on a tag on your meter to one of the supply companies and they can look it up on a database

When I moved into my flat, I got a letter to "the new occupier" from Powergen (as was) welcoming me - I suspect this had been automatically triggered because the person moving out had phoned through their final readings and closed the account.

Water meter (if exists) will be where supply enters property (perhaps in kitchen or airing cupboard) or outside. If it is a new(ish) block they tend to group them all together - you could try ringing the local water company and saying you have just moved in to address xyz and they may be able to tell you if it is metered or not.

MP