How Long?

[spathiphyllum]

after getting keys for a rented property how long after do you need to apply for council tax and water / gass etc?

Do you do it instantly or do they give you some time?

Obviously priority is making the home habitable but should we apply for these before you officially live there?

[Peter Pedant]

if you really cant live there
then you should be asking the landlord for a reduced rent

the water is a monopoly so that doesnt really matter - photoing the meter is a good idea - and you can ring. No choice about the supplier of water

gas and elec - you can do it by phone so long as the utility IS the one that suppied the property - my tenants have routinely changed suppliers without telling me

and dont change suppliers for a few weeks after moving in
as this gives the utilities the chance to double charge

so all this is not a chore - it saves you from paying more than you should

[Peter Pedant]

// Normally when you register for CT you are asked to confirm a) the start date of your tenancy and b) the day you moved in. They will back calculate it. //
is a counsel of perfection ....
the days before you move in - you should of course be paying CT for somewhere else and they dovetail it

one of the tenants agreed a removal date before they moved in with the council. - when I said they double charge she agreed ' dont they just'

one CT bill seemed a bit high ( yes I really do divide £1044 by 365 and count up the days of occupancy ) and the skool leaver said: yeah we've added some from another account. Jesus