How to sort out your energy supply when you move to a new home
It’s easy to arrange your energy supply when you move home. Our guide walks you through the process.
Moving home can be stressful, especially if you’re a first-time buyer – but with some forward planning you can avoid a lot of the hassle and anxiety.
Your gas and electricity supply is a good example. There’s lots you can do ahead of the move itself to make sure your bills are sorted and set up gas and electricity in your new home.
The previous owner will usually leave details of their energy supplier at the property or with the estate agent - but don’t panic if this isn’t the case. You can find out who supplies the gas and electricity to your new home on the Ofgem website.
You are responsible for the energy supply to the property once you become the legal owner, so make sure you provide your details as soon as possible.
Whether you are moving into a new rental property or buying your first home, switching energy suppliers is quick, easy and could save you a substantial amount of money. Follow the steps below to see how much you could save.
Switching your energy supplier is even quicker and easier with MoneySuperMarket’s Energy Monitor. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s a cheaper tariff available for you, so you can effortlessly switch and save money on your energy bill.
Hopefully, if there is a prepayment meter, the estate agent or landlord should be able to provide the key or card that is used to top up the meter, along with instructions on how to operate it.
Generally, prepayment meters are fitted in rented properties or for customers who have struggled to pay bills in the past.
However, it’s unlikely you’ll get the best tariff on a prepayment meter, so if you’re buying the property, explore whether you can move to a standard credit meter. If you’re renting, ask the landlord if you can switch to a standard credit meter, enabling you to pay bills every month or quarter.
Remember - you’re not obliged to stay on the same tariff on your prepayment meter when you move in. Our energy channel can help you find the prepayment tariff that’s best suited to your usage, which can reduce how much you pay.
When you move into a new rented property, you may need to supply meter readings to your landlord, as well as the supplier.
You’re entitled to switch suppliers if you find a better deal elsewhere – you don’t need your landlord’s permission, unless their name is on the bill.
For more tips and advice when moving home, head to our Homemovers’ article hub.
When you move into new business premises, you’ll automatically be transferred onto a ‘deemed’ rate with the building’s current suppliers. These are often expensive, so it’s worth using this opportunity to negotiate a better energy deal.
To switch to a better business gas and electricity contract, give our energy experts a call on 0800 088 6986, and try to have the following information to hand:
To find out more, check out our Moving your business premises page.
When you move into a new house or flat, the most important organisations to tell are:
You should also inform your GP of your change of address, as well as your children’s schools, and any magazines or services to which you subscribe.
Unless you’re buying a new-build property, the first step is to take meter readings to make sure you only pay for the energy you use – then find out which companies currently supply gas and electricity to your new home.
You may well be able to save money by switching to another provider, so take five minutes to find the best deal. The company you’re moving to will manage the switching process, which should only take a few weeks.
When you move house, you need to contact your gas, electricity, and water suppliers to tell them you’re moving out of your current property. You’ll then be sent a final bill based on the final meter readings (remember to give your suppliers your new address so they can send this out).
You can find out which companies you need to contact by checking your bills – or by asking your landlord.
It’s a good idea to let your existing utility suppliers know you’re moving at least 48 hours before you leave your current home. They’ll need your new address so they can send out your final bills, and will either ask you to take meter readings on the day you move out, or arrange to do their own.
Either way, take a quick photo of your meter readings on moving day so you can check your final bills – and do the same at your new home. If you’re a first-time buyer, it’s worth knowing you don’t have to stay with the same companies as the old owners, and you can apply to switch energy suppliers as soon as you move into your new home.
You can apply to switch energy suppliers once you’ve signed the sale or rental contract on your new home. It’s always recommended that you compare energy prices for a new property as the ‘deemed contracts’ providers offer to home movers rarely offer value for money. However, you’ll usually have to pay at least one bill to the existing provider because switching takes about 21 days.
You have to cancel all your utility contracts when you move house, including:
You also need to inform your local authority you’ll no longer be liable for council tax on your old home, and pay the final bill. If you don’t want to take your TV license with you to your new address, you’ll have to cancel that too.
Most UK energy providers are signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee, under which they have 21 days to switch your supply. It might not even take this long, although most companies wait until the end of your 14-day cooling-off period to action the switch. This gives you the chance to change your mind if you want.
You don’t have to pay to switch energy suppliers or set up an energy provider in your new home. In fact, switching should usually save you money – sometimes hundreds of pounds a year. The exception is when you’re on a fixed-rate deal that has exit penalties if you switch away before the end of the term.
Give us your postcode and tell us
about your energy usage – your most
recent bill will give you the best results
We’ll browse the market for the best deals
and show you how much you can save if
you switch suppliers with us.
Once you’ve started your switch you
won’t need to do a thing – your new
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Find out who is currently supplying your gas and electricity.
Read our guide to prepayment meters and find out how to switch to a credit meter.
Everything you need to know to switch to a cheaper gas and electricity tariff.
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Lower business energy costs by switching to a better tariff.
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