Gas and Electric responsibility?

[Cetti]

Please can anyone tell me when a house buyer becomes legally responsible for the gas and electric bills? Is it the moving in date...or when the contracts are signed or exchanged? Thank you.

[jg96]

The moving date make sure you read the meters on the house you are leaving and the house you are moving into.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

usually,either the person moving out gets the meters read before they go,or you arrange for it to be done on the day you move in.why would it be done when contracts are signed,you could be liable for a month or so in bills and you wouldent even be living there.

[Cetti]

It is the moving date then, as we thought jg96. Thank you.

We moved to this property at the beginning of February and British Gas are still trying to get us to pay from the middle of January. Even with Energy Watch involved it's an ongoing battle!

[Cetti]

Exactly NTD, so British Gas are trying to pull a flanker!

[anniebird]

It is only the moving date if that is also the date on which completion happens, a short while after exchange of contracts. The completion date is when you become legally resonsible for the property. It is possible to buy a property and be responsible for the gas, electricity etc but not move in for a period as I have done on 2 occasions in the past. In these instances the meters should be read, preferably by both seller and buyer on that day.