To help tenants move into their new accommodation with ease UK Radiators created a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything essential during the chaos of moving.
Make sure you’re satisfied with the inventory
The first thing you should do is check that you are happy with the inventory document. This is the document that records everything that is in the house as well as its current condition, so if it is incorrect you might lose your deposit.
Take photos of EVERYTHING
Make sure to take pictures of everything in the flat to showcase its condition to avoid any issues with your deposit. It is also worth sending the images to your landlord in an email to document the date the photos were taken.
Make sure the flat is safe!
A crucial step when moving into anywhere new is to make sure the house is safe! You need to consider the following:
- Check that the fire alarms work and can be heard from anywhere in the house.
- Ensure that there is nothing unsafe about the build of the house i.e. the stairs of the ceiling.
- Check the carbon monoxide alarm is working and installed where it needs to be.
- Make sure the house has an adequate fire extinguisher.
In case any of these are missing or broken, you need to notify your landlord immediately as it’s their responsibility to make sure these are present and working.
Sort Out Your Gas & Electric
The first thing to do is to check that all the lights and cooking hub are working fine as you want to avoid any unwelcome surprises down the line.
Unless your rent includes bills, you will need to pay them separately. The first of these is your electricity and gas (if your house has gas). Using websites like USwitch can help you find the best deal for your energy then it’s just a case of contacting them to get your energy setup.
Sort The Water
It’s very important that you test the water pressure in all the taps and the showers in the house the moment you get into the flat. If you find any issues with this, you need to notify your landlord.
Next, you need to pay for your water. Some cities will have one water provider, so contact them to make sure you are on a tariff that suits your specific needs.
Sort Out The Internet
Check your current provider’s internet speed and price and compare it to other providers in your area. Make sure that you consider how many people will be using the internet at any given time before choosing your provider.
Get Your Council Tax Exemption
You will eventually get a letter from the council asking you to pay council tax, but this is nothing to worry about as students are exempt from paying council tax. All you need to do is apply to your local council to get your exemption form.
Sort Out The TV Licence Out
Make sure to purchase a TV license, if you need it. According to the official UK TV Licensing website: “You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch programmes live on any online TV service – such as ITV Hub, All 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV or Sky Go. You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on-demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer.”
Clean The House
We know it’s been a long day, but trust us when we say there is nothing better than a clean house. The house should be in decent condition anyways, so you would just be doing a light cleaning to make your stay a bit more comfortable. If the place is a total mess, contact your landlord before you start unpacking.
Unpack Your Bags ASAP
It might seem obvious, but a lot of students live out of their suitcases for a few weeks before they actually get around to taking everything out. You want to make sure you get any organising done before you get overwhelmed by lectures and assignments so, take an hour or two to unpack everything
Buy The Essentials
Nothing worse than running up to the bathroom to wash your hands only to realise no one bought soap. Make sure you make a list of all the essentials you need from shampoo to milk so that you avoid running down to Tesco at 1 am.
Decorate The House
Once you’ve got the essentials out of the way, it’s time to make the house your own by decorating the house. Make sure to avoid using anything permanently like pins or blu tack to avoid losing your deposit.
Locate Where Everything Is
It can be overwhelming moving to a new city, so take the time to locate where everything you need is and find the easiest way to get to it. Here are a few places you might want to think of:
- The City centre
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Restaurant
- The train station
- Gym
Change Your GP
If you don’t fancy travelling back home whenever you need to visit a doctor, you might want to change your GP to your closest practice or the university GP.
Change Your Address Online
Make sure that you notify anyone that sends you letters of your change of address (like your bank or insurance) and that you cancel any unused subscriptions like your gym.
Register To Vote
If you’re living somewhere for three-plus years, you want to make sure your voice is heard so make sure to register to vote in your local council.
Enjoy Your New Adventure
Finally, moving to a new city or house could feel overwhelming, but remember to enjoy the experience. Pat yourself on the back for moving out and enjoy your new adventure!