Moving out of rental process

[SmileAndNod]

We're due to move out in Feb after a bit of a saga. We've had a move out/ cleaning list today (despite then telling our cleaner they don't do them).
In the list they say they're doing our final meter reading and will close our gas / electricity / water accounts with our suppliers. Can they do this? How will they have access to our account details? And also as we're moving out a few days before they do the inspection we'd be happier to sort this ourselves.

Also they're insisting on an address for our new property (which we won't have BTW. No idea where we're going to end up yet) Why would they need this if we have a mail re direct set up? Is it a legal thing?

Who are 'they'? You have no contract with anyone but the landlord so contact them.

Whose name are all the accounts in?

Take photos of meters at end of tenancy and lots of photos of property. Tell them they can contact you via the redirect. Landlord needs contact address for deposit etc. And of course in case of any trouble, although most trouble tenants vanish.

Sorry the letting agent / landlord ( not the owner of the house, he's not the LL apparently ).

All of the utilities are in our names. We pay them all monthly by direct debit so the LL would have no idea as to our account numbers. Don't really see why they should be meddling? We were planning on taking readings (and photograph these) the very last time we leave the house - fri night, keys handed in sat morning. Wouldn't this be good enough?

Also as our new address isn't up and running yet a re direct and an email address / mobile numbers should be sufficient forms of contact? Just wondering if IABU?

For goodness sake there are lots of reasons the agent needs your new address; so they can communicate with after the outgoing regarding the bond, your tenancy does not end on the day you move out but only when the notice expires so meter readings etc should only be taken on this final day and utilities only advised then, agency acts for landlord so they put accounts back in landlords name and utility companies need your forwarding address, post might be hand delivered and they can forward on. Just cooperate with them why make such a fuss, they have data protection regs and tenancy agreement should cover this point.

How can you redirect mail if you have no address? It needs to be done a bit in advance to take effect on moving day. There may well be some post missed, you may have outstanding utility bills or even be due a refund. The accounts can be changed firm the meter number/address and the agent needs to ensure the transfer takes over correctly to new tenant or ll in the short term. You seem unduly suspicious of a standard process.

I do, as don't feel they've been entirely honest in the whole of this process.

I'm probably going to have to use my mums address for re direct purposes, as we're most likely staying on the floor for a bit. I did look into a po box bit it seems you need to be a business and I'm not.

But no, in short, I don't trust the agents.

It's normal process for the letting agent to close your accounts after moving out, they need forwarding address for council tax/utilities.
Your council tax and utilities are your responsibility until your lease ends, not the day you leave the property, eg if you move out all your things on the 1st of the month but don't give keys back till the 5th then you are liable for council tax and utilities until the 5th.

Ah, a bit clearer. Sorry. When a tenant leaves I contact the utility companies to take over the account (as the landlord) until the next tenant arrives. I give final readings, tenant name and a forwarding address - and as someone says, you need an address to set up a redirect.

In your interest as you will then get closure statements and details of any money owing or payment to make. Although you would be wise to contact the utility companies yourself.

In this case landlord is paying agents to do all this. Normal and harmless.

Dont worry, it is all quite normal procedure.

But as advised above, do take photos of your meters readings on the final day and of the property, particularly any photos that were shown in the original inventory and any of any damage and wear and tear.

(most utility companies have a moving house section on the website if you do chose to do it yourself too)