Moving house can be stressful, whether that is moving into a new rental property or a property you have bought. The process can be filled with worry, doubt and a lot of hard work. To make the process easier, The Lettings Cloud has come up with a checklist to ensure there are no unexpected surprises when moving into your new home and to ensure you are making the most of your new home!
1. Double check questions with previous owners/landlord.
To ensure you have a smooth transition into your new home, you will need to know the ins and outs of the house including the location of the main stopcock, bin collection day and the current energy suppliers. It may be a good idea to take a notebook with you or create a file on your phone to help you remember these extra notes! Here are a few examples of questions worth asking:
Where are the gas and electricity meters?
What day is bin collection?
Which companies supply energy and broadband?
Where is the thermostat?
Where is the main stopcock?
What is the expected move-in date?
What are the acceptable payment methods for rent?
What are the rules for a redecoration of the property?
Are there any plans for redecoration, or renovations in the near future?
Are utility bills included in the rent?
2. Redirect your post
The Royal Mail offers a postal redirection service that will transfer any bills or other mail to your new address. Post can be redirected for 3, 6 or 12 months from £33.99. This service will ensure you don’t miss any important documents and will prevent personal details from falling into the wrong hands. All you need to get started is the names and date of birth of everyone who needs their mail redirected and the addresses of both your new and old address.
3. Label all moving boxes
Labelling your boxes with the room they will be going into, and a quick description of what’s inside will help your moving process be a lot smoother! Some people will go as far as colour coding their boxes, but a sharpie will be enough! Make sure you label both the top and the side of your boxes so you can tell what’s inside even when the boxes are stacked.
4. Register to vote
Moving house means you have to re-register to vote with your new address. Registering to vote is vital in order for you to have your say. It also helps boost your credit score as if you’re on the electoral roll, it’s more likely you’ll get accepted for credit. The voting register helps credit agencies confirm where you live to avoid fraud.
Each person in the household needs to register themselves which can be done on the GOV.UK website. It only takes 5 minutes to complete.
5. Explore your new neighbourhood
Your new neighbourhood will have all sorts of secrets up its sleeve ready for you to investigate! Do a bit of research online to find local walks and trails as well as beauty spots for future days out, or ways to clear your head when moving into your new house. Here at The Lettings Cloud, we have published a few area guides, and trail walks including a Barrowford Area Guide, a Colne Area Guide, and Burnley’s Terrific Walks and Trails for future tenants and homeowners to learn about their new local area.
6. Return old residents mail
Any mail that arrives at your new home, but isn’t addressed to any members of the current household should be reposted. Opening mail not addressed to yourself is illegal, however, it shouldn’t be thrown away either. Instead, write ‘return to sender’ on the envelope and repost it. The sender will know not to send any future mail and will contact the old resident for their new address.
