Moving house
Organize utility handovers for a move
Utility handovers go smoothly when you plan stop dates at the old place and start dates at the new one together. Providers decide what's possible, so get dates and confirmation details from them directly, and keep reference numbers in a private record.
A text to start with
I'm leaving my apartment on [date] and getting keys to a rental house on [date]. I need electric, water, gas and internet at the new place, and I'm stopping electric and internet at the old one. Build a timeline showing when to contact each provider, the dates to request, and where I'd have a gap or overlap. Leave a blank for confirmation numbers so I can fill them in myself.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Spotting gaps before they happen
Look for gaps first. The new place should have power and water when you arrive, and the old place should keep service through your final walkthrough. Internet installs sometimes need an appointment, so the timeline should flag that as something to book early. Which utilities you set up yourself depends on your lease or property manager, and the reply shouldn't assume. Any lead time it suggests is a guess until a provider confirms it.
Call in timeline order
Contact each provider in the order on the timeline and write down the dates they actually give you. Ask your landlord which services stay in the owner's name. When the confirmations arrive, paste the dates back without the reference numbers and ask for an updated timeline that shows any remaining gaps.