Whether it’s your first rental property or your third, setting up gas and electricity should be one of your priorities. This is because you need your utilities to be turned on for a decent standard of living, such as being able to cook and access clean water. If you’re wondering how to set up your utilities while renting, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s a standard step-by-step process to get you going. Before you begin, it’s recommended that you find out which utilities you’re responsible for as a tenant, as this varies depending on the rental. Generally, you’ll be expected to pay for your own gas and electricity but this isn’t always the case.
1. Gather the relevant information
Before you begin it’s useful to gather all of the information you need for setting up utilities for your rental. Again this varies depending on the provider you choose but a general rule of thumb is that you’ll need:
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- A recent meter reading
- Your new address in full
- Preferred start date
If you’re unsure, the preferred start date is usually the day that you intend to move in.
2. Research various utility providers
There are many different providers of gas and electricity in the UK. Some tenants like to shop around separately for their gas and electricity, but it’s often cheaper and more convenient to get a package deal if possible. If you want minimum hassle, you can simply stay with the providers set up by the previous tenant. However, check that their tariff rates are suitable for your budget before you do this.
While you’re researching gas and electricity providers, you may also want to consider other utilities such as water, as well as other essentials like broadband. Consider making notes on your research, including possible providers for each type of utility and what the average costs for those utilities are shaping up to be.
3. Get in touch for a quote and switch-on date
Once you’ve started to research providers and have made a shortlist of preferred companies, start getting in touch for personalised quotes, if you haven’t done so already. These quotes inform you how much you can expect to pay per month for utilities. There are many different packages available so take your time to research thoroughly.
Getting utilities set up is easier than before as many providers now have online portals that you can log in to. These portals allow you to sign up for a utility plan and arrange a start date – all without speaking to a single member of staff.
If everything goes accordingly, your rented property should have access to all of the necessary utilities on the agreed start date. Make sure your provider has agreed to this date or acknowledged it in some form, however.