When Moving House, How Should I Deal With Energy Suppliers?

Whether you are a first time buyer or are more experienced at moving house, there are many aspects to buying a new home that may be forgotten or over looked. Here at Hannells, one of the things we often get asked by home movers is how do I deal with energy suppliers?

Often this is only raised at the point of picking up the keys on moving day and we regularly receive a rather panicked phone call just before completion asking if we could pop over and take the meter readings!

With all the excitement, action and stress that can go with moving, making sure you don’t get stuck with an expensive energy tariff at your new home can sometimes be forgotten. But don’t worry, we have put together a list of simple steps to follow to make sure you have everything covered!

What to do before moving house

Step 1. Notify your current energy supplier that you will be moving

Ring your energy supplier at least 48 hours before your move to tell them the date that you will be moving and to give them your new address so they will be able to send you your final bill. Your energy supplier should arrange to take a meter reading or they may ask you to read the meters on the day you move out. You can find contact details for energy suppliers here. For information on how to read different types of meters, have a look here.

Step 2. Take a meter reading on the day you move

You should take a meter reading on the last day you are in the property to avoid being over charged by your energy supplier. Pass the readings on to your supplier and keep a note for your own records. Your supplier will then forward a final bill to you with a final statement.

If you are in a rented property, before moving house, you should take a note of the meter readings and confirm these with your Landlord and/or the letting agent. It can be a good idea to take a photo of the meters on your phone so you have them for future reference.

It’s also a good idea to let the new occupants of your home know which energy company has been supplying the property. You could leave a note with contact details or inform your estate/letting agent.

What to do after moving out

Step 1. Take gas and electricity meter readings when you move into your new home

Make a note of these and keep them safe. This will ensure you aren’t being charged for energy supplied to the property before you moved in. Again it is a good idea to take a quick snap with your mobile phone so you have proof of the readings and the date they were taken.

Step 2. Find out which energy company supplies your new home

When your moving house and you get settled in to your new property you’ll automatically be placed on what is known as a ‘deemed contract’ with the existing supplier to the property. You will need to contact this existing supplier and give them the meter readings you have taken. Sometimes it isn’t immediately evident who the gas or electricity supplier to the property is. It’s always best to check the paper work you received from your solicitor or check with your estate/letting agent. You can always check the find my supplier website or phone the meter number helpline on 0870 608 1524 to find out who the gas supplier is and for the electricity supplier you can call the local electricity distribution company whose telephone number should be in the telephone directory under ‘Electricity’ and ask for the company’s meter point administration services (MPAS).

If the property you have moved into has a prepayment meter, you will need to arrange for a new top up key or card to be delivered. You can usually arrange for a supply to be added to the meter whilst this is being sorted.

Step 3. Open a new account

You will need to ring the existing energy supplier and inform them of your move in date, give them your details and give them the meter readings you had taken when you first moved in. The supplier will create a new account for you. Be aware, most suppliers will place you on their standard tariff when you first move which may not be the best deal, so follow our step 4 below for finding the best tariff and switching to it.

Step 4. Check that you are getting the best deal on your gas and electricity supply

There are many useful websites which let you compare different tariffs and energy suppliers, including Money Saving Expert and Which. Just pop your details in and they should be able to offer a comparison of the tariffs available and offer suggestions as to which one will suit you best. Since you won’t have much information about how much gas and electricity you will use in your new home they will have to make certain predictions so it’s best to recheck after a few months to make sure the details are correct.

Just be aware that if you are moving into a rental property, you must check the terms of your lease or speak to your Landlord and/or Lettings agent to see if you are allowed to switch suppliers. If you are not able to change suppliers you may still be able to reduce your bills by speaking to the current supplier to switch to a cheaper tariff.

Step 5. Switch supplier

Most of the comparison sites will allow you to simply add in a few details and will then take care of sending your application to the new supplier. The new supplier will organise setting up your account, organise your switch and will let you know when it is due to take place. To ensure that the switch goes smoothly it’s best to take meter readings on the switch date. Give these to both the old supplier and your new supplier and settle your final bill with your old supplier promptly.

You don’t need to inform your existing supplier that you will be switching as your new energy provider will let them know.

So there you have it! It may seem like a small detail, but it’s very useful to know what to do with your suppliers on move day and it’s one less thing to think about!

Our teams are always on hand to give you help and advice about the moving process or property in general, so if you need any help at all, just pop in to your local branch, give us a call or contact us here