There are so many things to consider when moving home, taking care of your utilities such as gas, electricity and broadband ahead of time can reduce stress and minimise the chance of things going wrong during the move itself. If you’re satisfied with your current energy provider, you can usually take your tariff with you when you move home – though it’s essential to check a number of factors that could make it prohibitively expensive or difficult to continue using the same service. It may be the case that switching to a new supplier a more cost-effective option.
For some people, moving house is the ideal opportunity to make large-scale changes and take care of aspects of their home they hadn’t previously paid much attention to – utilities are among these frequently overlooked factors. If you feel you’ve been paying too much for your gas and electricity, comparing tariffs from different companies could help you find the most suitable deal for your new property – though you need to account for any differences between your old and new home that could affect your energy usage habits, especially if you’re moving into a larger or smaller property with different heating requirements.
If the property you’re moving into is already tied to a previous energy supplier, it may also be cheaper to continue using the same company – as long as you check the details of the tariff and ensure you legally change the name associated with the gas meter. In most cases, gas supplies will be disconnected before new people move into a property, so it will be up to the new resident whether they bring their existing gas contract with them or begin fresh.
Informing your gas company of your intention to move will help to clarify the options available to you. This needs to be done at least 48 hours before moving out of a property, but there are advantages to informing the company several weeks or even months in advance, especially if you’re concerned about the end date of your contract approaching. If you receive electricity from the same company that supplies your gas, you should also check whether you’re able to take both services with you when you move.
There may be disconnection and reconnection costs involved in switching the gas supply in a new home, especially if the property does not feature the type of meter required for your contact. You should also take a meter reading when you move in, which could be valuable information for future dealings with gas companies and the home’s previous occupants.