It’s easy to put utilities on the back burner when you’re moving house – after all, there’s nothing sexy about setting up your gas, electricity, phone line or internet.
But unless you want to be left in the dark or hit with a surprise bill, it’s a good idea to leap into action right now.
Simply follow our how-to guide and you’ll be back to hanging pictures and arranging your scatter cushions in no time.
Meter made
Whether renting or buying, there’s a high chance your new pad is already connected to at least gas, electric and water. Before moving find the gas and/or electricity meters in your new place and take a photographic and dated record of the readings. This way, if you need to query the first bill, you can provide the suppliers with accurate figures rather than estimates.
The big picture
Get a full account of the current utilities situation. Who supplies the gas and electricity? What type of meters are installed? How much are the average monthly or quarterly bills? You may want to ask the previous tenant, owner or landlord about this. Once you’ve a full picture of the utilities situation, you can decide how to proceed.
What’s in a name?
If you’re renting, your landlord may decide to keep the utilities in their name – in which case you simply pay them the bills along with your monthly rent. In most cases, however, and always when buying, you’ll have to transfer the utilities into your name. Usually, this is a straightforward process and can be done online or over the phone. Ideally, this should be done as soon as you move in and start enjoying the facilities.
Shop around
Prior to actually transferring, you may want to shop around to see if there are any better deals available from other suppliers operating in your area. Online comparison websites are a great help here.
Get connected
Now you can start thinking about communications, such as the landline, satellite TV and internet. The good news is, if you had broadband in your old place, you can often move your package to your new pad with a few clicks of a button – then move the router like you would any other piece of furniture. Most providers usually require at least two weeks’ notice. If you’re starting from scratch, look around to see what’s available in your new area. Some providers offer a one-stop-shop of broadband, phone and satellite TV, which can make the set-up process and billing a lot easier. Bear in mind installation can take significantly longer, especially if new cabling is needed.
See . . . utilities really are easy peasy! Now all you need is a dream property so why not head on over to s1homes now?