Moving out is a stressful process, and managing your utility bills on top of it can feel like the bitter-tasting cherry on the cake. Luckily, switching providers and wrapping everything up for final bills isn’t as daunting as it seems, as long as you plan ahead and get yourself organised.
Setting up gas and electricity in a new home
Before you leave, tie up the last loose end and make sure you call your current energy provider in good time to allow everything to get sorted before you move out. They will advise you on your next steps and may even offer you a better package deal on your new home if you choose to stick with them.
If there’s a fixed tariff attached to your current property, you can carry over the same energy deal with your new home. This will avoid triggering exit fees by ending your tariff early.
To do this, get in touch with your existing supplier and update your address details directly with them. They will need to know the forwarding address and your planned move-in date. They will also need a final meter reading so they can calculate your final bill and it’s important you do this as you may be overcharged if not.
Sort out your council tax
Notify your local council on your upcoming address change as soon as possible. This will prevent you from being overcharged on your council tax or being subject to a financial penalty.
Before you receive your final bill, the council will ask you for:
- Your new address
- Your previous address
- The date you’ll be moving
- The name of the new owner or tenant of your old address
- The name and address of the solicitor dealing with the sale
Once you have left your current home, the local council will most likely send the final bill as a one-off payment, and after this your new home will be billed accordingly. If you’re staying within the same postcode area, the local authority may allow you to continue payments with the same direct debit arrangement.
How to avoid exit fees
Most suppliers will not charge exit fees if you transfer your current tariff to your next home. Get in touch with your supplier and ask for a transfer, they will ask for a meter reading to issue your final bill and close the account on your current home, and they will also need the details of your new address and a move in date so they can set up the tariff ready for when you move in.
How to avoid any overlaps
Be vigilant and make sure you have taken a final meter reading before you move out and take a photo of your reading in case you need to refer back to it as evidence in the event of a dispute. Once you’ve made and documented your final reading, inform your supplier that you are moving out and request a final bill. This will ensure that you aren’t paying for any electricity that you haven’t used.
It’s important to note that some suppliers take utility bill payments in advance, while others collect at the end of the month. If your new supplier bills in advance, you may have to make two payments in the month you move as a one-off. However, you will not be billed for the same energy twice.
Contact your local Ellis & Co branch and start the search for your dream home today!
