Completion day meter readings - does it need to be on the day?

[Aquickquestion82]

Property is empty, boiler turned off, electric is on but nothing switched on.
Coming up to completion, I just did a meter reading for the last week and both gas and electric were 0 kWh, so definitely onstage.

my question is - is it essential to do a final meter reading on the day of completion, or is it fine to do the night before? I’m not living there and it’s going to be difficult to get there before work on the morning of completion. But I don’t want to cause a billing issue

I can't help with the energy meter, but is the water metered? If so call the water company and advise of 'move out' date. If there is time they will read the meter, if it is a smart water meter they won't have to. As a last resort the WC will apply an estimated final read.

We always do and photograph it.

Nope luckily on a fixed rate not metered for water so that’s all been closed already

If you do and photograph it there is no come back from the other side.

Up to you how important that is to you.

The people who bought our last house asked for a meter reading from me a couple of days before, but I still did my own reading on completion day and took a photo of the meter as reference.

The night before is fine and keep a photo of it, just in case. Good luck with the sale!