Tell your supplier before you move
Most suppliers need around 48 hours' notice, though a week or two is better if you can. Contact them by phone, through their app, or on their website. Have your move date, new address, and account number ready. They'll close your account on your move date and issue a final bill — no need to cancel anything separately. If you rent, your letting agent usually knows who the supplier is. If you own and don't know, check your solicitor's pre-completion pack.
Take meter readings on moving day
On the day you move, photograph every meter at both properties — gas and electricity at minimum, plus water if it's metered. Note the numbers and send them to your supplier the same day. Some suppliers let you submit readings through their app in under a minute. This one step stops almost every billing dispute. Full detail in our meter readings guide.
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Get my free moving plan →Can you switch energy supplier when you move?
Yes — and moving is one of the few times you can leave a fixed contract without an exit fee. You're not stuck with whoever supplies your new property either. When you move in, you'll be put on a 'deemed contract' with the existing supplier, which is usually their most expensive tariff. You can switch away from a deemed contract at any time, with no notice period. Give it a few weeks after moving in so the meter readings settle, then compare deals. Our guide on setting up energy at your new home walks through the switch.
Smart meters when you move house
Your smart meter stays at the property — you don't take it with you. It belongs to the home, not to you or your supplier. If your new place already has a smart meter, a second-generation (SMETS2) model should keep working fine when you register with a supplier. A first-generation (SMETS1) meter may lose its smart functionality and 'go dumb', meaning you'll need to send manual readings until it reconnects. Either way, photograph the meter on moving day — smart meters sometimes drop offline when accounts change hands, and a manual reading is the easiest backup.
What if gas and electricity are on different suppliers?
Plenty of UK homes have 'dual fuel' — gas and electricity on the same supplier — but lots don't. If your old or new home has two separate suppliers, contact both. The process is the same, and you'll get two final bills. Dual fuel tariffs are usually slightly cheaper and easier to manage, so it's worth combining once you've settled in.