What are the most stressful things you can do in your life? The top five are often listed as the death of a loved one, losing your job, a major illness, divorce and… moving home. Moving home is a hugely stressful experience which is compounded by several factors. There are things which are exciting and as well as those which we face with trepidation, starting out in a new area, perhaps unfamiliar area, making new friends and getting to know neighbours or packing up and transporting a lifetime of memories.
Then there are the more mundane aspects of moving home, such as sorting out bills, notifying utility suppliers and getting your new home all hooked up. Anyone who has recently moved home will know that whilst these aspects of moving are much more humdrum, they can end up being some of the most frustrating aspects of moving home and are ones which you need to get on top of.
Why do I need to contact my new supplier(s)
When you move into your new home one of the first things you should do is to note down any meter readings and notify utility suppliers. This is to prevent you being charged for any usage by the previous occupants and for your utility suppliers to only charge you for what you have used. It does not have to tie you into a contract with them as many electricity and gas suppliers will simply put you on a rolling contract till such time as you either sign up for a specific tariff (which is advisable to get the best rate) or till you switch providers.
Finding my utility suppliers
If you have recently moved home you will need to find out who your new utility suppliers (electricity, gas, water and telephone/ broadband) are.
Who is my energy supplier?
The easiest way to find out who supplies the electricity, and gas if you have it, at your new property is to contact the previous owner, tenant or landlord. If you are purchasing your property, and are in contact with the seller, either they or the estate agent may be able to help you. If you are moving into rented accommodation try contacting the letting agent and landlord to find out. What you should not do is wait till you start to receive bills from the supplier.
This is because the energy supplier may not know who is residing at the property, whether or not it is occupied, and most likely will be using estimated billing. Noting down the meter readings when you move in and supplying these to the appropriate providers will remove that and allow you to get on the best possible plan, tariff or contract for your usage.
If you aren’t having much luck getting in contact with the previous residents/ owners or landlord you can find out who your gas supplier is by calling the Meter Point Administration service (0870 608 1524). They can help find your home’s supplier and will issue with a Meter Point Reference Number for future calls to them.
For more ways to find out who your current energy supplier is, you can read more in this handy guide to who is my gas and electricity provider.
Who is my water supplier?
Finding out your new water supplier is much easier than finding your gas and electricity provider. This is because water is still a more regulated field with each water supplier only operating within a specific geographical area. You can look up who your new water supplier is, as well as their contact info with this handy guide from Water UK
Broadband and telephone suppliers
When you move to a new property it is likely that any telephone and broadband supply will have been cut off and will likely need to be reconnected. If you are still within the minimum term of your existing contract with a provider you will need to remain with them and simply be reconnected at your new address with your existing account.
It is possible to get out of such contracts but this usually comes with a heavy penalty. You will need to notify your broadband and telephone supplier prior to moving (around a month before hand is the best amount of time). Inform them of your moving date, new address and whether or not you want to bring your account with you to your new home. Book in any broadband or TV service installations before your moving date to secure an engineers visit as close to when you move in as possible.
If you are outside your minimum term contract then you can begin to look at and compare other telephone, broadband and tv providers to find the best possible package for you. There can be pitfalls and problems when changing contracts as you move home. Broadband.co.uk have a great guide on what to expect and how to navigate through any potential issues you might have.
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