last updated September 5th, 2025
Utilities are the day to day services provided to you such as water and tv.
In some areas the public water and waste supply may be from different companies but billing might be through just one supplier (the waste company bills the water company who collect the money from you). Verify that the connections are legal (call the companies) as proof that you are paying for a service does not mean you are connected. If you have a smell of sewerage in or around the house as discussed at House Buyer Tips - Finding the source of smells in a house, you should have the drains inspected.
If there is a cesspit or septic tank, verify that it is legal, functioning and maintained.
Check the signal coverage at the address before you buy Ofcom Mobile and Internet Availability Checker - bad signal can be overcome if you can use a wi-fi connection with the mobile phone operator.
As ADSL services are being wound down and fibre is increasingly available, check availability and speeds. In the countryside, you might be asked to contribute to the costs of laying fibre. If this seems likely check up on 'demand aggregation' and contact BT before you buy a house as the costs can be substantial. Satellite internet access is about double the cost of fibre but may be necessary in the countryside.
Cable TV is mainly only available in towns and cities but as fibre Internet expands 'TV' is becoming readily available via internet. There are many combined deals on offer for mobile and cable/TV satellite so shop around.
As not everyone sees gigabit internet as crucial, read about Home Buyers Wants and Needs List when considering what you really want in your new home.
The energy market is competitive and online quotes are normal. You may have to pay an 'exit fee' when you break a contract at your existing address but some suppliers may not charge if you stay with them. Read your meters on the day you move in and send them to your new supplier and confirm same in email. The change to a new supplier is not instant so you may have to pay 1 month with the existing supplier.
The age and maintenance of the panels must be checked together with any contracts between the house owner and installer or energy buyer.
Price comparison sites or direct contact with each type of service provider are the main options for all of these costs.
Heat pumps take external heat from either the air or from water pumped and warmed in the ground and transfer this internally heating radiators, fresh water or just the internal air. 'Air conditioning' is an air to air heating and/or cooling system.
Older heat pumps and air conditioners are less efficient and may have constant speed fans meaning that the pump is either 'on' or 'off' while newer pumps have variable speed fans supplying regular variable amounts of heat. Check the SEER rating - the higher the rating, the more efficient the pump will be. Typically the 'life' is 15 years so budget to replace older systems.
Make sure that you ask the seller for the location of all stop cocks, isolators for solar panels, meters and consumer units (fuseboards).
Check Insurance - protecting your home which lists the main types of insurance policies that you should consider when buying and moving home.
