Moving Logistics
How do I take over utilities when moving house?
On move-day, take meter readings for gas, electricity and water at both properties, photograph them, and note the time. Contact the existing supplier at the new home — the seller or letting agent should tell you who it is — within 14 days using the readings to open an account on the existing tariff. Citizens Advice — Moving home: dealing with your energy supply covers the legal process.
You are not stuck with the existing supplier — once you have an account you can switch to a cheaper tariff at any time, no exit fee, and the switch typically completes in five working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee. Water is non-switchable: you stay with the regional supplier listed on Citizens Advice water guidance.
For TV Licence, update the address through tvlicensing.co.uk — your existing licence covers the new home for free.
What this means in practice
On move-day Saturday 4 April 2026 a buyer takes electricity (Octopus, 14257 kWh), gas (British Gas, 8932 m³) and water (Thames Water, 423 m³) readings at 11:30 at the new SE19 property. They photograph all three meters with the door key in shot for timestamp evidence. By Tuesday they have called Octopus to confirm the existing tenancy ended and opened a new account on the standard variable tariff, switched within seven days to a 12-month fixed at 24.5p/kWh saving £180/year, called British Gas to do the same on gas, and updated Thames Water online. TV Licence change took two minutes and cost nothing. Total time spent: 90 minutes. Total saved by switching: roughly £290 across electricity and gas in year one.
Related questions
What if I do not know who the current energy supplier is?
For electricity, call the regional Distribution Network Operator — find yours by postcode on the Energy Networks Association tool — and ask for the Meter Point Administration Service supplier of record. For gas, call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524 with the postcode and they will tell you the supplier and MPRN. Both routes are free and take under five minutes. Until you have an active account in your name you are still legally responsible for usage from the moment you take possession.
Can I switch supplier on day one of moving in?
Technically yes, but it is rarely worth the hassle. You need an active account at the new address before any switch can register, and most switches take five working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee. The cleaner pattern is: open an account with the existing supplier on move-day using your meter readings, then submit a switch request the same week. You will be on the existing tariff for one to two weeks at most, which on a typical bill is a few pounds — well below the cost of mistakes made trying to skip the step.
Sources
Related reading
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