Begin before you exchange contracts

Utilities have a habit of catching people out at exactly the wrong moment. You are surrounded by boxes, the kettle is somewhere in the boot of the car, and suddenly you realise you have no idea who supplies the electricity. A little forward planning turns a stressful first week into a straightforward one.

As soon as you have a completion date, write a short list of everything the property needs: gas, electricity, water, broadband, council tax and a TV licence. If the home has an alarm or a warden call system, add that too. For energy, find out who currently supplies the address — the details are usually on a bill left behind, on a card by the meter, or you can ask the current owner or letting agent. There is also a national service that will tell you which supplier is registered to a meter point if you have the meter serial number.

Energy: opening accounts and avoiding surprises

You become responsible for the gas and electricity from the day you take ownership or the day your tenancy begins, whichever applies. You do not have to stay with the existing supplier, but you are automatically placed on what is called a deemed contract until you choose something else. These tariffs are often among the most expensive available, so it pays to act quickly.

On moving day, take a photo of every meter — gas, electricity and any water meter — showing the reading and the serial number clearly. Send those readings to both the old supplier and your chosen new one. This single habit prevents the most common cause of disputed bills, which is a supplier estimating your usage from a reading taken weeks before you arrived.

• Give opening readings in writing and keep a copy.
• Ask whether the property has a prepayment meter; if so, request a swap to credit mode.
• Check whether you are on a fixed or variable tariff before committing.
• Remember you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period on a new energy contract.
• Do not close the account at your old address until you have given final readings.

If the property has been empty for a while, ask about the standing charge for the void period and confirm it is not being passed to you.

Broadband and phone: book the installation early

Broadband is usually the longest lead time of any utility. A new line or a full-fibre installation can take two weeks or more, and appointments fill up quickly at month end and around bank holidays. Start checking availability at the new postcode as soon as your offer is accepted, not when you pick up the keys.

If you are moving an existing contract, check whether your provider covers the new address. Many will transfer a service, but some charge a fee or require a new minimum term. Where they cannot help, ask what cancellation charges apply — providers sometimes waive them if they cannot supply the new home. It is also worth confirming whether an engineer needs access, whether drilling is required, and whether you need permission from a landlord for any external work. As a stopgap, a mobile data plan or a portable hotspot will keep you connected for a week or two.

Water and council tax: the services you cannot shop around for

Water is supplied by one regional company, so there is no switching to do. The account simply transfers with the property. Tell the supplier your move-in date and give a meter reading if there is one. If the home is unmetered, you can usually request a meter free of charge, which often lowers bills for smaller households.

Council tax is the one people forget, and it is also the one that generates stern letters fastest. Contact the local authority within a few days of moving to set up a new account and close the old one. Ask about the 25% single occupant discount if you live alone, and check whether the property has any exemption or disabled band reduction. Setting up a direct debit over 10 or 12 monthly instalments stops the reminders before they start.

Sort the handover details while you are still at the property

Before the removal van leaves, walk around with the seller or agent and note the practical things that no utility company will tell you. Find the stopcock, the fuse box, the boiler controls and the water isolation valves. Ask when the boiler was last serviced and where the instruction manuals are kept. Take photographs of any existing damage, marks or scuffs, particularly if you are renting and will need your deposit back.

Send your final readings to the old suppliers and your opening readings to the new ones on the same day, then file the confirmations in one folder — digital is fine. If a bill later arrives that looks wrong, you will have the evidence to hand rather than a vague memory of a meter you glanced at once.

Your moving-week checklist

• Four weeks before: check broadband availability and book an installation slot.
• Two weeks before: compare energy tariffs and start a switch; tell the council your moving date.
• One week before: arrange a final reading at the old property and confirm the water account details.
• Moving day: photograph all meters, note serial numbers, and keep the kettle and a couple of mugs in a box you can reach.
• First week: confirm every account is open, set up direct debits, and update your address with your bank, doctor, insurer and the DVLA.

None of this takes long if you spread it over a few evenings. Do it early and your new home will be warm, lit, connected and properly billed from the moment you arrive.