Moving home energy: how to set up or switch gas and electricity

Written by: EnergySwitch editorial team · Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

Direct answer: When you move, you don’t need to arrange a new connection. The gas and electricity keep flowing. Read the meters on the day you leave and on the day you arrive, and tell your old supplier at least 48 hours before you move out. Then find out who supplies your new home and tell them you’ve moved in. Until you choose something else, you’ll be on a “deemed contract”, which is that supplier’s default (standard variable) tariff under the Ofgem price cap. From the day you become responsible for the property, you can switch tariff or supplier. If you rent and pay the energy supplier directly, you have the same right to switch.

This guide walks through move day, finding your new supplier, deemed contracts, taking a fixed tariff with you, and the rules for tenants. A checklist is at the end.

Before you move: tell your supplier and take readings

Citizens Advice suggests you do these things before you move out:

• Give your current supplier at least 48 hours’ notice of your moving date.
• Read your meters on the day you move out and send the readings to your supplier. A dated photo of each meter is good evidence if you dispute the final bill later.
• Give a forwarding address so your final bill reaches you. Citizens Advice says you’ll have 28 days to pay it.
• If you have a smart meter, check it’s working in “smart mode” (sending readings automatically). If it isn’t, take a manual reading. Leave the in-home display for the next occupier.

What happens to your final bill and any credit?

Under Ofgem’s guaranteed standards, your old supplier must send a final bill within six weeks. If you’re in credit, it must refund you within 10 working days of the final bill. If either deadline is missed, you may be owed £40 compensation. Our guide to switching when you’re in debt or in credit covers this in more detail.

Moving day: read the meters at your new home

As soon as you get the keys, read the gas and electricity meters and keep a dated photo. This reading is the starting point for your account. Without it, you could be billed for energy the previous occupier used.

If the new home has a prepayment meter

Citizens Advice says you should contact the supplier straight away. Try not to top up or use the old key or card until you have, because you could end up paying off the previous occupier’s debt. Ask the supplier to:

• clear any debt from the meter that isn’t yours
• send you a new key or card
• explain how the meter works

If you had to top up before contacting them, tell them. Citizens Advice says they should refund any extra charges if you can show when you moved in. You can also ask about switching to a credit meter (this usually needs a credit check). For the cost differences, see prepayment vs Direct Debit.

How to find out who supplies your new home

If the seller, landlord or letting agent can’t tell you, Citizens Advice gives these routes:

If one company supplies both fuels, checking the gas supplier first is usually quickest. Once you know the supplier, contact them with your move-in date and opening readings, and ask for the account to be put in your name.

What is a “deemed contract”, and should you switch?

When you move in and use energy without agreeing a contract, Citizens Advice says you’re automatically put on a deemed contract. This is the existing supplier’s default or standard variable tariff. Default tariffs are covered by the Ofgem price cap. The cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill.

For 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem’s average Direct Debit rates for default tariffs in Great Britain are:

That gives a typical Direct Debit dual-fuel level of £1,723 a year, up from £1,663 in July to September. Your actual bill depends on your usage, region and meter. The January to March 2027 cap hasn’t been announced. Ofgem will publish it by 25 November 2026. See the energy price cap hub and our January 2027 forecast guide, which keeps forecasts clearly separate from official figures.

Should you switch off the deemed contract? You don’t have to, but it’s worth checking. Ofgem advises comparing tariffs, and says the best option may be with your current supplier. Citizens Advice notes:

• You can switch tariff or supplier only once you’re responsible for the property.
• A switch isn’t instant, so you’ll get at least one bill from the current supplier.
• A new supplier should complete the switch within 5 working days. If it doesn’t, Ofgem says you’re owed £40.
• You can cancel within 14 days if you change your mind.

Compare with your postcode and an estimate of your usage on compare gas and electricity. If you don’t know your usage yet, the previous occupier’s figures or the supplier’s estimate are a starting point. Update them once you have real readings. Step-by-step help is in how to switch energy supplier.

Can you take your fixed tariff with you?

Sometimes. Citizens Advice says your supplier might let you move your existing contract and tariff to your new address without a fee. Ask before you move. If they won’t, or you decide to leave:

• You may have to pay an exit fee for ending a fixed tariff early. Check your contract.
• Ofgem’s switching rules say you can’t be charged an exit fee in the last 49 days of a fixed-term tariff.
• If you end your contract, you’ll go onto the default tariff at your new home. Citizens Advice says the same.

Whether to fix again this winter depends on live prices compared with the cap. Our winter 2026 fix guide sets out the decision.

Renting: can tenants switch energy supplier?

Yes, if you pay the energy supplier directly. Ofgem and Citizens Advice both say a tenant who pays the supplier can switch supplier or tariff at any time. This includes tenants with a prepayment meter.

Before switching, Ofgem suggests checking your tenancy agreement for:

• a “default supplier” clause that lists suppliers you’re expected to use, and whether it can be changed
• whether you need to tell your landlord or letting agent before switching
• a “notice and return” clause, which means you must switch the account back to the original supplier when you leave

If your landlord pays the energy bills, you can’t switch yourself. You can ask your landlord to switch, but Citizens Advice says they don’t have to. Ofgem says a landlord who pays should include the energy cost in your rent, deal with the supplier directly and pay for supply between tenancies. If you think you’re being overcharged, Citizens Advice has guidance on what landlords can charge for energy.

Can my landlord change my energy supplier? If the account is in your name and you pay the supplier, it’s your contract. Your landlord can’t switch it for you, though the tenancy may require you to switch back when you leave. If the landlord holds the account, they choose the supplier.

Moving home energy checklist

1. Tell your current supplier at least 48 hours before you move.
2. Take dated meter readings (and photos) on move-out day.
3. Give your old supplier a forwarding address. Expect a final bill within six weeks, and any credit back within 10 working days of it.
4. Read the meters at your new home on move-in day.
5. Find the new supplier (Find My Supplier for gas, your network operator for electricity) and tell them you’ve moved in.
6. If there’s a prepayment meter, call the supplier before topping up.
7. Compare tariffs once you’re responsible for the property, and switch off the deemed contract if a better deal suits you.
8. Join the new supplier’s Priority Services Register if you’re eligible.
9. Renting? Check the tenancy agreement for supplier clauses before switching.

To cut costs in your new home, see our energy saving advice.

Moving home energy FAQs

Do I need to set up gas and electricity when I move into a new house?

Usually not as a new connection. Supply normally stays on between occupiers. Find the current supplier, give them your move-in date and meter readings, and ask for the account to be in your name. You’ll be on their deemed (default) tariff until you choose another deal.

How do I find out who my energy supplier is at a new address?

For gas, search the postcode on Find My Supplier or call the Meter Number Helpline. For electricity, find your network operator on the Energy Networks Association website, then use that operator’s supplier lookup.

Can I switch energy supplier straight after moving in?

Yes, once you’re responsible for the property. The switch should complete within 5 working days, so you’ll get at least one bill from the existing supplier. You can cancel within 14 days if you change your mind.

Can tenants switch energy supplier?

Yes, if you pay the supplier directly, including on prepayment. Check your tenancy agreement for default-supplier or notice-and-return clauses. If your landlord pays the bills, only the landlord can switch.

Can I take my energy tariff with me when I move?

Some suppliers let you move your existing tariff to your new home. Ask before you move. If you leave a fixed tariff early, an exit fee may apply, but not in the last 49 days of the fixed term.

What happens if I don’t give meter readings when I move?

Your old supplier may estimate your final bill, and the new account may start from an estimate. You could end up paying for energy you didn’t use. Dated readings and photos from both homes are the simplest protection.

Sources

• Citizens Advice: Moving home, dealing with your energy supply
• Citizens Advice: Find out who your gas or electricity supplier is
• Citizens Advice: Switching energy supplier or tariff if you’re renting
• Ofgem: Switch your home energy supplier (moving to a new home, renting, 5-working-day switch, 14-day cancellation)
• Ofgem: Are you owed money on your energy bill? (six-week final bill, 10-working-day refund, £40 compensation)
• Ofgem: Licence guide, switching (no exit fees in final 49 days of a fixed term)
• Ofgem: Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026. Written for Great Britain households. Northern Ireland has a separate energy market. EnergySwitch is not Ofgem Confidence Code accredited. Always check live tariffs before switching.