New house - can I switch utilities providers immediately?

[HoolyHooly]

We are moving in a few weeks. The current owner will advise utilities companies that he is moving out, but can I switch providers straight away or do I need to wait a while to get things moved over? Sorry if this sounds a bit thick, but in the past I have rented and just kept the supplier.
Thanks!

I contacted a new supplier the day I completed. But it takes a few weeks for the swap to occur, so I was stuck with the old supplier for that time.

We switched immediately we moved in here last year, but it took a month to actually happen. Cost us £500 because of the tariff the old owners had been on!

We tried to switch immediately but it took about 3 months for it actually to happen.

You need to contact the current supplier with meter readings for your moving in day and get your details registered with them.

You can then contact the supplier you want to change to and tell them you want to switch over to them. I think it took about 8 weeks before my supply was switched to the new supplier (switched from British Gas to Ecotricity).

Thanks for the info. So I wonder if I could contact in advance of the sale? It is in Scotland so missives are concluded, no backing out now.

You will need to take over the supply (as in, start paying the bills) to register your details with the supplier, so I doubt you can do it in advance.