Paying utilities on a new rental

[Collie86]

Hello lovely mums,

I've been away from the UK for a few years and I'm looking at returning soon. I have a few utility-related questions since I've been looking at rentals.

From what I've read online, the agent letting out the property will advise what the companies are for electricity and gas and then I have to call them up and get those utilities connected in my name from the move-in date. With water, there is only one supplier for the area and I have to get that connected by calling as well.

Is this the general process? Is there anything I'm missing?

The last I rented in the UK was years ago and I don't want to get any surprises with the bills! so, any advice on this would be appreciated.

• Which companies would you recommend for gas/electricity?
• Does the letting agent typically let me know how utilities are paid for - i.e. gives me the details and I put them in my name?
• What are some things I should watch out for with utilities?

and Lastly - I've seen a property I'm really interested in, it's above a shop, next to a cross-section. I'm aware there will probably be noise, but is there anything else I should know about these types of properties? It's 750 pcm - do you advise against these types of properties? The only thing I know is that they can be noisy and I have to wait for street trash collection. It looks like there are bins at the side of the property, but I'll have to check that.

Any advice you can give me would be great and thank you in advance.

Usually the utilities are connected when you move in and the agent let's you know the company and the meter readings. You contact them to get the billls put into your name and set up a payment system but can change companies if you like. At least that's my experience. Probably best to ask the agency though.
Things like internet and phone you set up yourself with whoever you want generally speaking.

I wouldn't live above shop for any money. It's not just the noise but the fact that there is a good chance your landlord will be the owner of said shop and always about. Ugh! But maybe that's just me.

Right now, I'd just stick with whatever gas and electric tariff they put you on. Prices are going crazy on fixed tariffs right now, and the energy cap should work in your favour. It's really hard to recomend one, because the different way they charge make different companys cheeper for people with different usage. We are currently happy with octopus.

I think the agent will transfer the bills to your name - at a minimium you will probably enter the property to a mass of letters addressed "to the new occupier" to get your details as they will know the previous tenants have moved out.

The one thing I woukd really recomend is getting an acount with topcashback, and setting up new accounts for insurance, phone etc using them as an intermediary. We got about £400 in cash back our first year back in the UK - its dropped since then as we arent doing as much shopping! I can send you a referal code by PM if you want.

Safe move

You've got the general process right!

I'd make sure on move in day you take photos of the meters with the readings showing for your records (to make sure you're not paying for usage before you moved in) and share these with the landlord.

At the moment the energy market isn't very competitive, high prices for crude products have pushed some smaller companies out of business. Personally I'd read a bit on the internet, but it's better sometimes to stick with a standard variable tariff then wait for some price stabilisation in the coming months (depending when you're moving!) otherwise if you lock into a fixed tariff you may end up paying over the odds.

I wouldn't live above a shop if I had a choice, or by an intersection. The fumes of traffic if you wanted to open a window would be off putting, as would the noise / deliveries / patrons of the shop. It depends, is it above a greengrocers in a village (eg. Quiet / daytime opening hours) or a convenience store in a city (e.g loud / open very late)?

You can move as you buying the bills But estate agent telling what they on at the moment but things are silly at the moment so check different prices might be better to stay with them

As PP said you can move in and use the utilities straight away normally, just get the readings and change the bills to your name.

The only time this didn’t work, actually twice, was not having any or a good enough phone line for internet, and it took around a month to get, so worth checking. I think I did have to pay for installation once. This was about 10 years ago so technology for internet might be different now.

Also, beware getting the right box for the reading! We had a huge electricity bill this year because I did a correct meter reading and the check in report photo was of the wrong box - so a discrepancy. All sorted now. Take photos of all options just in case.

Finally, some rental contracts say not to change supplier without permission.

Good luck!

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the replies. The apartment is above a salvation army store in Surrey and it's next to a church and a parking lot - I'm assuming for the various shops/church etc. as it's near the village/large town high street. I don't know if the landlord owns the shop below or not.

Regards the utilities, I will probably go with the companies the agent advises me of and maybe change later on.

Internet and phone - I haven't looked into these yet. Was planning on getting a pay-as-you-go mobile plan and with the internet, I have to look into it. I work on the go a lot so I'll need something flexible.