Moving In Checklist
So you've found somewhere to live, you've signed a contract, and you're moving in. So apart from organising a moving in party what are the most important things you need to do?
Immediately
Do these things NOW, before your suitcases even hit the floor:
- If you haven't got contents insurance get it now. You'll need cover for the contents of your room and (possibly) separate cover or premiums for high risk items like computers and bikes.
- If you are paying for your own gas and electricity, take meter readings.
- Contact the gas and electricity companies and give them the meter reading and the date you moved in. This should ensure you don't get charged for energy used by the previous occupants.
- If you're in a joint house ask the gas and electricity companies to put ALL the housemates? names on the new bill. This will ensure that just one housemate doesn't get nailed for everyone else's bill.
- Contact the telephone company and do the same. Always ask for an itemised bill so you don't all end up paying for someone else's premium rate calls to porn lines, or hour long conversations with their sister in Australia.
- Check the house thoroughly to ensure that you are happy that is in the condition it was when you agreed to take it.
- Report any damage to the landlord or agent immediately. This includes fire blankets and extinguishers that may have been tampered with or used as well as any damage. If you don't, they'll blame the damage on you and keep some of your deposit at the end of your term.
- Check that there are enough keys for each of the housemates (both yale and mortice). If not, get the landlord to cut some extras.
Soon After You Move In
So you've moved in and the dust has settled. Time to get busy with these other bits:
- If you've got a TV, you need a TV licence. It will set you back £131.50 a year, which is still cheaper than the fine (up to £1,000). If you have external locks on bedroom doors this is often considered as flats rather than a shared house from the view of the TV licensing people and they'll want you to pay for TV's in each of the bedrooms.
- Find the stop taps or switches for the water, gas and electricity. When water's pouring through the ceiling at 4am on a Sunday morning you'll be glad you did.
- Make sure that keys are present for any window locks. Look out for windows screwed/painted shut and ask your landlord/agent to fix them. Try opening all the windows in your house to check they don't stick, this could be your escape route in the case of a fire.
- If there are no locks on windows you should ask your landlord/agent to fit them, especially on the ground floor.
- Test the smoke/heat alarms, and then re-test them every couple of weeks. It's a good idea to buy new batteries for all the alarms at the beginning of the year, as you don't know how long the old ones have been there for.
- Check that you have the service record for any gas appliances.
- Check that none of the property's vents or airways are blocked.
- Plan an excape route in the event of a fire.
- Check the security throughout the house. Do all the catches and locks work on the windows and doors? You might also want to work out a system for making sure all your housemates have made it home OK at the end of the evening.
Other Things To Consider
The amount of stuff you'll need just to make the place liveable will amaze you. Here's a list of things you'll probably want to look into:
- Washing machine: check to see if there's anywhere to plumb one in. You can rent one for around £30-a-month, although it could be cheaper to bite the bullet and buy a cheap one between you if there are a few of you. Keep an eye out for sales at places like Dixons and Curries. And don't forget there's always the laundrette.
- Cookers and microwaves: check you've got all your shelves and grill pans for the oven and microwave. Also invest in a toaster between you. It's much quicker than toasting bread under the grill and will pay for itself times over in convenience.
- Furniture and beds: you may want to bring your own, especially the bed. Mattresses that have been used by generations of students will invariably ming. At the very least bring a mattress cover to go under your sheets. Just make sure the landlord/agent knows what is yours and what is theirs.
- Fridge and freezer: do they work? Fridges especially can still burn lots of electricity long after they've given up cooling anything. Make sure the door shuts firmly and the seal is good.
- Curtains and carpets: these should come as standard, even in unfurnished properties. If there aren't any, talk to your landlord/agent.
- Bins and washing up: piles of fetid, rotting garbage and weeks-old mountains of washing up are major causes of pest infestation and minor illnesses among students. It's dull, but try and work out a rota for taking the rubbish out, washing up and cleaning communal areas before the air gets too gross to breathe.
