Setting up Electricity or Gas for an apartment.?

Question

Heya!

Im moving over to Sydney soon from NZ and will be getting an apartment. How do I go about setting up electricity/gas accounts and what providers do you recommend?

I'm coming with a cousin. We're both young! (17) but we have a lot of family in Sydney. We want our own space though and we are very mature and settled 17 year olds. My cousin will be 18 in November. Firstly, are we able to get an apartment at that age, and can we set up electricity/gas at that age.

We will both be employed full time with stable jobs. Thanks

Answer 1

I go through Energy Aust. (I live in Sydney) they do both gas and electricity and they are standard with pricing. I paid a $200 deposit for both the gas and elec which i will get refunded when i move from this house. There are lots of phone companies to go through. Only really need a home phone if you want the internet though. To have the home phone you HAVE to pay about $30 a month (Telstra) and then calls on top. Other wise just use your mobile or calling cards you can buy from newsagents.

Thinks thats about it. When you set up these accounts they can move house with you, so you dont have to cancel and start again. Maybe move into a share house to start off with. Will be a bit cheaper to start off with.

Dont know if you are allowed to set up Gas/Elec at that age, check the websites.

http://www.energy.com.au/energy/ea.nsf/C...

For Houses

http://www.realestate.com.au/

Good Luck

Answer 2

My best advice for you being young is get a letter from somebody as a "guarantor" like your parents, the rental market is very tight.  The best advice I can give you about getting power etc connected is just ask the real estate agent you will be renting from (once you get a place) for advice, they will be able to tell you (if they have half a brain) who the most used on is in the area.  You will pay a security deposit for both connections of maybe $100 or so, and that is refunded off your last bill.  As long as you have a drivers licence number to hand over they should be fine.  ie. true name etc etc it will all be done over the phone.  I really think you will need somebody to go guarantor for a flat at your age, sorry, I think it sucks too!

Answer 3

The rental market is very very tight in Sydney at the moment. Every week we see stories on the news of  people lining up  just to inspect rental properties in  the  city and inner suburbs.  Make sure you come over with good references and  proof that you can afford to  pay the rent.  I would start looking now if I were  you. Try  www.realestate.com.au.