Your first own home
You are signing an electricity or gas contract yourself for the first time. We explain terms such as unit price (Arbeitspreis), standing charge (Grundpreis) and monthly instalment (Abschlag) in simple words.
Moving house · As of October 2026
Moving house: electricity and gas set up and cancelled correctly
When you move, there is a lot to organise. Electricity and gas are part of it, because otherwise you risk paying twice or ending up on an unfavourable tariff in your new home. Here you will find the most important rules and a checklist. MB Finance helps you find a suitable tariff for your new address in good time.
- Meter reading on handover day
- Special termination when moving
- Contract before you move in
- Checklist
What happens to your old contract
You have two options: you take the contract with you to your new address, or you cancel it. Many contracts can be taken with you if you report the move in advance. However, some contract terms state that the contract ends when you move. Check the section on moving (“Umzug”) in your contract terms.
For contracts outside the basic supply (Grundversorgung), household customers have a special termination right (Sonderkündigungsrecht) when they move (§ 41b Abs. 5 EnWG). The notice period is six weeks. The cancellation can take effect on the day you move out or on a later date. In your cancellation, give your new address or the identification number of the new supply point (Entnahmestelle).
The cancellation does not take effect if, within two weeks, your supplier offers you in text form (Textform) to continue the contract at the new address on the same terms, and supply is possible there. If the price or the remaining term changes, this is not a real continuation. Supply is not possible, for example, in these cases:
- Moving in together: you move into a home that another supplier already supplies.
- Different heating: in your new home, you no longer need a gas or heating electricity contract, for example.
You can cancel a basic supply contract at any time with two weeks' notice.
In your new home: plan in good time
If you use electricity or gas in your new home without having signed a contract, the local default supplier (Grundversorger) supplies you. The contract starts with the first kilowatt hour you use. This secures your supply, but it is not necessarily the right tariff for you.
So try to arrange your new contract before you move in. For electricity, you cannot be assigned to a new supplier retroactively. For gas, there is one exception: if the contract was signed before supply started and only the move-in was reported too late, retroactive assignment of up to six weeks is possible.
If you did not manage to switch before moving in, this is not a big problem. A new supplier can usually cancel the basic supply for you and then supply you.
Do not copy the meter number (Zählernummer) from the previous tenant or the landlord without checking it. With a wrong number, for example your neighbour's, you sign a contract for the wrong home.
Checklist for your move
These steps help you avoid paying twice and disputes about consumption.
- At least six weeks before you move out: check your contract terms and decide whether to take the contract with you or cancel it.
- Send your cancellation or notice of your move in text form, with your moving-out date and your new address.
- Choose a tariff for your new home and set the start of supply to the day you move in.
- On handover day, read the meters in your old and new homes and record the readings with a photo, together with the meter number.
- Send the meter readings (Zählerstände) to your old and new suppliers, and to be safe also to the network operator (Netzbetreiber).
- Also enter the meter readings in the handover report (Übergabeprotokoll) with your landlord or the next tenant.
- If you have a separate metering contract (Messstellenvertrag), cancel or transfer it as well.
- Check the final bill (Schlussrechnung): it must arrive no later than six weeks after supply ends; any credit is paid out within two weeks.
- Tell your household contents insurance about your new address.
Typical moving situations
Moving within the same city
Even a move within the same building counts as a change of address. You can often take the contract with you if you report the move in time.
Moving in together
One contract continues, the other ends. We check with you which contract is better to keep.
New home, different heating
Perhaps you no longer need a gas contract, but a heat pump tariff instead. We look at your new situation.
How it works with MB Finance
This website does not offer a live tariff comparison. You can get specific tariffs for your new address via “Request a quote” or in a consultation.
- 01
Send a request
You contact us by phone, WhatsApp, email or via the request form, ideally a few weeks before your move.
- 02
Check consumption and contract
We look at your current contract, the rules for moving and the expected consumption in your new home.
- 03
Compare tariffs
We compare suitable tariffs for your new address from the suppliers that MB Finance works with.
- 04
Receive a quote as a PDF
You receive the quote as a PDF in German and, if you wish, also in Persian or English.
- 05
Sign the order
If you agree, you sign the order directly on screen or via a link.
- 06
Supply from the day you move in
The new supplier registers you with the network operator. If there is already a contract for the new home, such as the basic supply, the new supplier usually cancels it for you.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance do I have to cancel because of a move?
For contracts outside the basic supply, the notice period is six weeks. The cancellation can take effect on the day you move out or later. You can cancel a basic supply contract with two weeks' notice.
What happens if I have no contract in my new home?
Then the local default supplier supplies you automatically. The contract starts with the first kilowatt hour. You can then switch to a different tariff.
Can I send the meter reading later?
Usually, yes. It is important that you note the reading on handover day and ideally take a photo. This way, the consumption can be clearly assigned later.
As a homeowner, is there anything else I need to consider?
Yes. In addition to the supply contract, there is a grid connection contract (Netzanschlussvertrag) with the network operator. Check with the network operator whether this contract needs to be changed, or cancelled and taken out again.
What about my household contents insurance when I move?
Household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) covers the home named in the insurance policy. So report your move to your insurer as well. MB Finance gives advice on this at mitblick-finance.com.
Related topics
Reading your meter
How to read your meter correctly: electricity meters, smart meters, HT/NT and gas meters explained. When to take a reading and what helps against estimates.
Learn moreBasic supply
What default and substitute supply for electricity and gas mean, why they often cost more, which deadlines apply and how to switch to a suitable tariff.
Learn moreTerm, price guarantee & bonus
How to read electricity and gas contracts: contract term, notice period, cancellation button, withdrawal, bonus and price guarantee, with an offer checklist.
Learn moreUnderstanding your bill
How to read your electricity and gas bill: unit price, standing charge, monthly instalments, 2026 price components, mandatory details and what to do about errors.
Learn moreElectricity consumption calculator
How much electricity does a household like yours use? The calculator shows the average consumption according to the Stromspiegel (electricity consumption benchmark) and places your own annual consumption in classes A to G.
Open the calculatorInstalment & back payment calculator
Are you paying a high enough monthly instalment (Abschlag)? Enter two meter readings with their dates. The calculator projects your consumption over a year and shows the right instalment as well as a possible back payment (Nachzahlung) or credit (Guthaben).
Open the calculatorSources
- Gesetze im Internet: § 41b EnWG (special termination when moving)
- Verbraucherzentrale: What happens to your electricity or gas contract when you move?
- Bundesnetzagentur: Switching supplier (basic supply, moving with gas)
- Gesetze im Internet: § 2 StromGVV (how a basic supply contract is concluded)
- Gesetze im Internet: § 40c EnWG (deadlines for bills and credits)
Get personal advice
Call us, send us a message on WhatsApp or by email, or request a quote directly. We give advice by phone or Microsoft Teams – in German, Persian and English.