Changing the contract holder of the utilities for a rental property is a common process that’s quite simple as well as being advisable. This change occurs every time a tenant leaves the property and another tenant occupies it.
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Why is it necessary to make a change to the utilities in a rental property?
If you’re a property owner and you wish to rent out your property, you may have doubts as to whether or not to change the contract holder of the property’s utilities. We explain why it’s important to change this below.
The most crucial reason is that the tenant, and not the property owner, will be responsible for the debts of the property in the event of non-payment.
Who should change the contract holder of the utilities in a rented property?
The new tenant is responsible for requesting the change. The rental contract should therefore ideally include a clause in this regard. This should cover the tenant’s obligation to change the contract holder within one month.
How can I change the contract holder of the utilities?
To do so, the new tenant must call the utility companies and provide the details of the old owner (name, tax ID number, and address of the property). In addition to his or her own details and the payment details.
Likewise, the meter reading at the time of connection and the details of the corresponding bills are also essential.
The change of name and the new registration are free services, but they won’t take effect until a few days after the request has been made.
Electricity
In this case, you must call the service provider and provide the name, surname(s), and ID card number of the previous and new contract holder of the utility supply. You must also provide the electrical power currently under contract, contact details of the new resident, the CUPS code, and the bank account for the payment of the bills by direct debit.
The time it takes to see the new changes on the bill is between 15 and 20 days.
Water
After contacting the water company, the easiest thing to do is to have the last bill ready and provide three pieces of information: The ID card number of the previous owner, the contract number, and the address of the supply.
You will also need the ID card number of the new owner, a copy of the rental contract, and an updated meter reading. This procedure can be carried out in person, by telephone, or via the internet.
Gas
To change the gas contract holder, you only need to follow three simple steps: contact the company, provide the details of the old and new holder, and the address of the property. You will also need to provide the CUPS code and IBAN for direct debit payments. It can take up to 20 days to register the service in the name of the new tenant.
Can the tenant be billed for the cost of utilities?
When renting a property, there are two options: to change the contract holder of the rental utilities or to keep them in the owner’s name and bill the new tenant by direct debit. The latter option is one of the most commonly used by landlords, since the change is very simple, but it can pose problems if the tenant doesn’t pay his or her bills.