Before paying rent, verify the meter and account, photograph the balance or reading, inspect recent bills for debt, confirm the tariff band and ask whether supply is shared or independently metered.
A clean-looking meter does not prove the account has no arrears or the installation is safe. Obtain both documentary and physical checks.
The essentials
- Meter number, customer name and serving DisCo.
- Outstanding debt, last receipt and present balance or reading.
- Dedicated versus shared meter and any submeters.
- Distribution board condition and evidence of unsafe connections.
What to check first
Start with the evidence already in front of you. A precise account, meter, product or safety detail is more useful than guessing from the outcome alone.
- Meter number, customer name and serving DisCo.
- Outstanding debt, last receipt and present balance or reading.
- Dedicated versus shared meter and any submeters.
- Distribution board condition and evidence of unsafe connections.
Step by step
Work through the existing transaction, account or installation in order. Keep the reference and result from each step before moving to the next.
- Validate the service number and customer record.
- Ask for recent receipts or bills and reconcile the balance.
- Have suspicious wiring inspected by a qualified electrician.
- Sign a handover record with photographs and responsibility for old debt.
Mistakes to avoid
These shortcuts often turn a traceable problem into a second payment, a lost evidence trail or a safety risk.
- Paying an old debt without written agreement on reimbursement.
- Relying on an agent’s statement instead of the electricity record.
- Accepting bypassed or visibly unsafe wiring as temporary.
When to escalate
Ask the serving DisCo to assign account debt correctly and report unsafe or tampered installations. Do not attempt to regularise a bypass yourself.
Frequently asked
What electricity evidence should go into a handover?
Include the meter and account numbers, dated balance or reading, latest bill, outstanding debt position and who owns or controls any shared supply.
Should I test the meter before moving in?
Confirm the display, customer lookup and a safe supply test with the landlord or qualified person. Do not open or interfere with the meter.
Research sources
Official guidance, product information and public sources were reviewed on 27 July 2026.