renting out and changing all the bills?? advice wanted.

renting out and changing all the bills?? advice wanted.

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plumAJP

Original Poster:

1,149 posts

196 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
im going to be renting my house to my sister.

i have sky plus, telephone, internet, and all the other usual stuff.

do I call the energy providers and switch names and bank details to my sister or do I just terminate the service? if possible I want it to change hands to my sister smoothly without her having to phone around and get new providers etc. (I have gas/electric/phone with same provider).

with sky plus, my sister wants sky at the property, do i leave my +box there and set up a new account with sky for my new address and get a new free +box or wont they give me 2 accounts for different addresses?

Any help is appreciated. never let out a property before. and this will be my sisters 1st house/let property so i dont want to bombard her with people to phone and set up acounts etc.


mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
Forget it's your sister that's renting the place.

Secondly, unless you're living there as well I wouldn't include the bills in the rent. It leaves you liable for what ever the tenant decides to do.

Phone Sky and ask them what to do. The incoming tenant wants to maintain service and you want it in your new home so you may get one of their recomend a friend' payment out of them.

As for gas and electric you need to tell the provider when you're moving out and it is down to the incoming tenant to arrange their provider.

The only bill I would maintain (as Landlord) would be the Water bill, if it's still 'rates'. If the property is on a water meter then it's the same as the gas and electric.

plumAJP

Original Poster:

1,149 posts

196 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
property is not on a water meter.

i will phone sky and ask them what to do.

why would you still pay the water rates?

mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
Water rates are due regardless of whether a property is occupied or not.

neilsie

952 posts

253 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
Water rates are due regardless of whether a property is occupied or not.
thats not true - depends on the water company. As a landlord, if you notify the water company the property is empty, for some companies, no charges are due. Same goes for council tax.

regardless, i'd change the name on the water bill too.

Simpo Two

87,026 posts

272 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
If you're using a letting agent, then a good one will do it for you.

plumAJP

Original Poster:

1,149 posts

196 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
not using a letting agent yet, as its been agreed between my sister and I

If i do not move into my new property due to renovation where do i stand with council tax as it is not effectively occupied yet.

Simpo Two

87,026 posts

272 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
plumAJP said:
If i do not move into my new property due to renovation where do i stand with council tax as it is not effectively occupied yet.
Call your local Council for advice - mine were very helpful. I just downloaded a form to complete and send back.

Wings

5,840 posts

222 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
As a landlord I always inform ALL service providers of both the date the tenants have vacated the premises, also where appropriate the metre readings, together with the name of the new tenant and the date they take up the tenancy/moving in. I also provide my contact details, should a dispute to the information I have provided ever arise.