Moving into new house... gas/electricity?! HELP!!

[NotMyCircusMonkeys]

Sorry, posting here for traffic! Please help!!

We're due to complete on our first house tomorrow, but aren't moving in straight away. For convenient location reasons I'll be getting ready for a party there tomorrow night and going back there to sleep (on an airbed in an empty house )

It's all going to be a mad rush as I'll have to get the keys around work (working 9-5 so might be able to go at lunch if they're ready), drive there to get ready and be at the party for half 6, so I really won't have time to call energy suppliers.

A couple of people have said that the gas and electricity might have been cut off?! That doesn't happen does it?? Google seems to say something about a 'deemed contract' but doesn't really explain what this is...

Basically, my question is - will I have until at least Saturday to contact the energy suppliers, or am I going to be getting ready in a dark, cold house with no hot water?!

When i moved house i didnt get round to sorting out the energy suppliers for a couple of weeks. The family of the previous owner notified them their responsibility ended on the date i got the keys. I ended up staying with the same company but if i hadnt theyd just have billed me from the day i got my house til the day i moved companies

They won’t be cut off as the result of the move.

My advice if it may take you a day to call the suppliers is take photos of the meters as soon as you get there so you have an timestamped record of the readings.

Hello, I work in the homemoves department for an energy company ...... you should have gas and electric - are they billing meters or pay as you go meters??

Take meter reads for both gas and electric on the day you get the keys. When you get a chance call the current supplier and give your details and the meter reads, you won't be billed for anything that isn't your responsibility then.

@swizzells2003 I'm 99% sure they are billing meters.

Phew, thanks guys!! I had a horrible vision of turning up to a freezing, pitch black house.

I'll definitely check the meters tomorrow if someone could tell me how and where to find them that would be great

Usually the gas, eletctricity, water etc. is still on and the new occupier pays the bills from date of ownership/rental contract starting, then you can change suppliers if you want, but if the house has been empty for a long time it could be that they have all been turned off for safety reasons. (This is what had been done in a handful of empty houses we looked at when we were looking to buy nearly 20 years ago, but usually only happens in long term empty houses.)

So hopefully you will not have a problem, but if your new house has been empty then it would be wise to check.

@NotMyCircusMonkeys can't tell you where they are unfortunately (could be outside in a white box for elec and brown for gas, or under the stairs.....) but the how - read all the numbers from left to right, only the first 4/5 are used but note everything down to be on the safe side

If they are billed meters everything should be working , take written readings of gas , electric and water , use your camera on your phone as back up proof of this.
If it's pay as you go on gas / electric I'm not as sure but would assume it's working providing you keep it topped up
Contact the waterboard and energy suppliers asap with the readings and get them put into your name ( can be essential as they can be used as part of proof of your address in quite a few circumstances)

Enjoy your new home
If it is dark and it appears that it's off check they haven't turned it off at the main fuse box ( I've had this before )

Your meters positioning should be stated on the information sheet that the previous where filled in , make sure you have a meter key ( b&q about £1.50 ) otherwise you might not get the door open

Thanks everyone. All utilities were still on, phew!

I found the gas and electric meters and took photos of them. I couldn't find anything for the water; does this mean we aren't on a meter? If so, now what?!

I'm selling at mo and properly questionnaire asked where meters were, so refer to that. Not unusual not to have a water meter in older houses- just call water supplier and advise day you took ownership- you'll likely have a monthly set amount. Think carefully about whether to get a water meter if one not there as you can't go back to monthly payments once you have one. It's cheaper for 2-3 ppl on a meter, but if you're a bigger family it could be more expensive particularly when kids are teens