Moving into a rented property

In the UK, around 20% of people live in privately rented accommodation. Most of the people who live in rented homes are aged 18-35. However the percentage of older renters has grown steadily over the past few years. According to recent research, tenants stay in rented homes for an average of just two years. This means that most renters will move a number of times during their time as tenants. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know when moving into a rented property.

One month before moving into a rented property

The earlier you start getting organised, the calmer and more in control you’ll feel during the moving process. Give yourself plenty of time by starting work on your to do list a month before moving day. But what should you get started with a month before moving into a new rented property?

Book your movers

One of the first things you’ll need to do is book a removal company. Alternatively, if you don’t have a lot of belongings, you can opt for a man with a van - or even a friend with a car - if you want to save a little money. A lot of removal companies get very busy around the end of the month as this is when most tenancies come to an end. If you’re hoping to move on the 30th, 31st or 1st of the month, make sure you get in touch early to secure your movers.
In 2020, the average cost of packing up and moving a 3-bed house 50 miles is roughly £1,181. If you’re moving further afield, you may need to pay a little more. On the other hand, if you’re only moving down the road, or don’t have a lot of belongings, you may be able to find a cheaper deal.

Book some time off

Moving into a rented property, and getting settled, can easily take a few days. If possible try to book this time off work.

You can also take the opportunity to have a bit of a clear out. After all, the fewer things you have to take to your new property, the quicker – and cheaper – the move will be. Get rid of any unwanted or unused items by throwing them away or donating them to charity. You can also use local community networks on social media to find good homes for your old belongings.

Redirect your post

As well as doing practical things like packing, now is the perfect time to start taking care of some admin. Start by popping down to the Post Office to arrange for your mail to be forwarded. This will help to ensure you don’t miss any important letters when you relocate.
 

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When you go to the Post Office, you’ll need to take proof of your name and the address you’re moving too. The Post Office will then forward this information to the Royal Mail and your letters should be re-routed to your new home.

Notifying people of your new address

There are quite a lot of businesses and organisations you need to notify of your new address. Some of the most important are:

• The bank
• Your employer
• The DVLA
• Your doctor
• Your dentist
• National Insurance
• The local council

Start working through this list now to avoid a rush around moving day.

Arrange utilities

When you move into a new rental property, it should already be connected to the gas and electricity mains. However, as you’ll be taking over the property, it will be up to you to put your name on the account and find the best deals available.

We’ll look at setting up your energy supply in more detail later on. At this point, the main thing you need to do is find out which energy company currently supplies the property. You can then begin shopping round for a better deal.

Pet care

Having strange people in the house, and seeing all your belongings packed into boxes, can be confusing and distressing for your animals. So if you have pets, you might want to arrange for them to be looked after while you move.

Asking a friend or relative to care for your pet, or taking them to a local kennel or cattery, will help to keep them out of harm’s way and allow you to concentrate on moving into your rented property. Once you’ve arrived at your new home, you can collect your pet and bring them back to a nice calm house.

Parking permits

If the rented property you’re moving into is in a city centre or another busy area, there’s a good chance you’ll require a permit if you want to park your car. Applying for one now will help to ensure you have somewhere convenient to park come moving day and don’t get hit with any unexpected fines.

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One week before moving into a rented property

With moving day just a week away, now’s the time to start cleaning and packing in earnest. If you have everything in boxes and ready to go when it’s time to move, your relocation should be as quick and easy as possible.

Start scrubbing

If you’re currently living in a rented property, you’ll need to give it a thorough clean before you move out. Leaving the property in good condition will help to ensure you get your full deposit back and encourage your landlord to give you a good reference.

If you don’t have time to do the cleaning yourself, you could hire a professional cleaning company to tackle the job for you.

Document any damage

Your current landlord will deduct money for any damage you’ve caused to the property. If you’re already aware of scratches, knocks or stains that have appeared during your tenancy, it’s a good idea to document them for your own records.

Even if you haven’t caused any damage, it’s well worth taking some snaps of the property. That way, if your landlord tries to charge you over the odds, you’ll have photographic proof of the condition in which you left the rental.

Pack

Now pretty much the only thing left to do is pack. Try to keep your packing as organised as possible. If you’re using packing boxes, make notes on the outside of the box so you know exactly what’s inside. This will make life a lot easier when you arrive at your new rented property.

The day before you move

Hopefully by this point you’ve done all your admin, packed up your belongings and got everything arranged for the big day.

Run through your checklist

To make sure nothing has been overlooked, run through your moving house checklist one more time. Make sure you’ve confirmed the removal company, packed all your belongings and know when to hand back your old keys and pick up your new ones.

If you find you have missed something important, you might just have time to get it sorted before the movers arrive.

Make sure you store valuables somewhere safe

Whenever you move house, try to keep your valuable items and essential pieces of paperwork separate from the rest of your belongings. Things like passports, wallets, birth certificates and jewellery should be kept in a folder and stored somewhere safe.

You may also want to pack a bag with essential items like underwear, toothbrushes, bedding and the kettle. This will make it easy to get settled when you arrive at your new home.

Moving day

Moving into a new rented property can be a very exciting experience. Ideally, you’ll want to start the move as early in the day as possible to ensure you have plenty of time to complete the process.

Pick up the keys

Once you’ve handed back your old keys, you’ll need to go and collect your new ones. In most cases, you’ll pick the keys up from your estate agent. If this isn’t convenient, your agent or landlord may be able to meet you at the rental property.

Take photos and videos of your new rented property

Although you’ll probably want to start unpacking straight away, it’s important to put the boxes aside for a few minutes to take some photos. These photos will show the exact condition of the property when you moved in. Make sure you focus on any areas of obvious damage so you can prove it wasn’t you who caused the issue.

Your estate agent should give you an inventory listing everything in the rented property. This inventory should also list any existing damage. Go through it carefully to ensure what you see matches the description in the document.

Take a meter reading

Make sure you take both gas and electricity meter readings on the day you move in. Give these readings to your energy supplier when you get in touch to add your name to the account. This will allow them to generate an accurate bill for the property.

Unpack

Now you’ve taken care of all the admin, it’s time to unpack. It’s probably easier to go room by room, but as this is your new home, the way you unpack is completely up to you.

How to set up your energy supply

Setting up gas and electricity in your rented home is one of the most important pieces of admin you need to take care of when moving into a new rented property. As we’ve seen, the property should already be connected to the mains. However, the account will probably be in the landlord’s name so you’ll need to get it switched over to your name as soon as possible.
Call the current supplier to add your name to the account and give them the meter reading you took the day you moved in. If you’ve already decided you’re moving to a different provider, you can use this opportunity to notify the previous supplier that you’re switching.

If you haven’t yet decided which energy company to move to, it’s time to start comparing prices. The cost of gas and electricity can vary significantly between suppliers and between tariffs, so it’s well worth shopping around for the best deal.

Our Switch Plan can help you find the best provider for your home, so why not get in touch today?
0330 818 6223

Electric and gas safety

When moving into a rented property, it’s very important to consider gas and electricity safety. Your landlord is responsible for ensuring the boiler system, central heating and wiring is safe to use. To prove the property is safe to live in, your landlord should provide you with two documents:

• A Gas Safe Certificate for the boiler and central heating system
• An Electrical Safety Report for the wiring and appliances in the property

If either of these documents are missing from your moving in pack, make sure you get in touch with your landlord or estate agent straight away.

To read more on this topic, check out these guides:

• Moving into a new build
• Changing business premises
• Moving out

FAQ

How do I arrange the electricity connection at my new rented property?

Your new rental property should already be connected to the gas and electricity mains. When you move in, you’ll need to get in touch with the current energy supplier to put your name on the account and provide up to date meter readings.

Once you’ve taken over the account, you’re free to switch to a new supplier or a new tariff. Use our Switch Plan to find the best deal for your home by reaching 0330 818 6223

Is the boiler in my rental property safe to use?

When you move into a rental property, your landlord should provide you with an up to date gas safety certificate for your boiler. This will show that the appliance is safe to use. If you’re still concerned about the condition of your boiler, get in touch with your landlord or letting agent and ask them to send a qualified engineer around to take a look.

What are the most important things to remember when moving into a rented property?

When moving into a rented property, it’s very important to go through your inventory on the day your tenancy begins. Document any damage you find and make a note of anything that appears to be different or missing. Keeping these records handy will come in very useful if there’s a dispute over your deposit when you move out.

Where do I get the keys for my new rented property?

In most cases, you’ll pick up the keys for your new rental property from your letting agent. If this isn’t an option for you, for example, if you don’t have transport, your agent or landlord may be able to meet you at your new home.