Moving from one property to another can be a very stressful time, and there are different factors to consider depending on your situation. For renters, this is no exception. You know there’s paperwork to sort out and boxes to back, but what else do you need to worry about? Here’s your moving house checklist, with everything you need to consider when changing rental properties.
Moving House Checklist: Before you move
Check your current tenancy agreement
Before you even consider moving house, make sure that you check your current Tenancy Agreement. Tenancy Agreements can have minimum tenancy terms, which is a minimum amount of time that you agree to live at a property. If you move out before the terms agreed with your landlord, your deposit could be at risk. Tenancy Agreements contain very important information about the terms of your tenancy, so it’s worth double-checking it before you plan a move.
Learn about the changes to renting
From July 15th 2022, one of the biggest changes in decades is coming to Welsh Housing Law: The Renting Homes Act. The act will change the way that all landlords in Wales rent their properties.
There are some significant changes to the law that are due to affect rental tenants. These include:
- Written contracts setting out rights & responsibilities for renters
- Greater protection from eviction
- The ‘no fault’ notice period will increase to 6 months
These are big changes to the law, so you should make sure that you are up to date on your rights as a rental tenant. Find out more about the Renting Homes Act here.
Collect your paperwork
If you’ve decided you’re ready to move, the first step to take is to gather all of your important paperwork. Examples of these include: your Tenancy Agreement, Gas & Electricity Certificates, Deposit Protection Information, Property Inventory and the EPC. It can also be useful to collect a folder with receipts for any bills you’ve paid during you’re tenancy and details of the utilities providers. Disputes during a house move are not uncommon, so having all of your paperwork prepared could be useful if any issues arise.
Let people know
Once you’re ready to move, it’s time to let everyone know that you’re moving. Start off by handing in your notice to your current landlord and arranging a “Move-out date” with them. They will want to inspect the property following your residency and this can be inconvenient to attend if you’re trying to move in to a new place. Arrange and inspection date with your Landlord, and be there for the inspection! If you’re both present for the inspection, there’s a better chance that you’ll both be satisfied with the results.
You should also contact your utility providers and let them know about the move. Here’s a brief checklist of places that should know about your change of address:
- Gas & Electricity Provider
- Water Provider
- Internet Provider
- Phone Company
- HMRC (For Tax affairs)
- Local Council
- Doctor’s Surgery
- Dentist’s Office
- DVLA Office
- School/College/University/Work
- Post office
Get the house ready
Once you’ve got your paperwork together, and you’ve let everyone know you’re moving, it’s time to get everything ready! Make sure you’ve got your removal options booked in, and make sure that you’ve got pet/childcare sorted on the day of the move. Now it’s time to start packing! Be careful not to scratch any walls or floors when moving furniture. If you have caused any damage, or wear & tear, to the property then you should take photographs of these areas for your records. This could help to avoid a situation where you’re blamed for damages you don’t think you’ve caused.
You’ll also need to do a deep clean of the property. Your landlord will expect the house to be as clean as it was when you moved in, and it’s likely that they’ll have photographs for the record. If the property isn’t clean when you hand the keys back, the Landlord may withhold a portion of your deposit to cover cleaning expenses or damages. Therefore, it’s important to give the property a thorough clean before you move out (and take pictures for proof!)
Don’t forget to defrost your freezer if it’s coming with you!
Redirect your mail
If you want to make sure that you get all of your post in your new property, you may want to consider the Royal Mail Redirection service.
The redirection service is simple, it takes your mail addressed to your old property, and has it sent to your new one. It’s a great way to make sure that you don’t miss any important documents or letters. Redirection also helps to protect you against ID fraud, by preventing personal details in your mail from falling into the wrong hands.
To redirect your mail, you’ll need the names and birthdates of everybody in your current household as well as the address for your new & old home. You can find out more about the mail redirection service here.
Moving House Checklist: On the day
Move your stuff
So, the day is finally here! It’s time to move all of your stuff out of your old place, and into your new one. Pick up your keys, and get an idea about where everything is going to go in the new property. Then it’s time to get everything out of the old, and into the new. Make sure that you utilise proper lifting posture on the day of the move, boxes can be heavier than they look!
Final checks
Once you’ve got all of your stuff out, it’s time to do your final checks of the old property. Double-check each room to make sure you haven’t missed anything, and make sure you’ve taken photographs of any wear/damages you caused. Next, check the inventory to make sure that there is nothing missing that your Landlord doesn’t know about. Lastly, take photographs of your final meter readings at the property!
Congratulations! You’ve officially moved out of your old house!
The New Place
There’s no doubt you’ll be dying to start unpacking, but there are a couple of things you should do first. Start off by making sure that your key utilities are working, you don’t want to be unpacking in the dark! Next, take photographs of the meter readings in your new property and have them available to send to your utility company. Lastly, take pictures of each room in the house so that you have a record of the state of the property when you moved in. If you see any noticeable damage or wear, make a note of it and mention it to your Landlord. It’s also useful to double-check that all of the lights, plug sockets, and radiators are working properly.
If you’re content with the new place, then it’s time to get stuck-in to the unpacking!
Moving House Checklist: After the move
Once you’ve finished the move, there are a few things you should take care of before you fully relax in the new house. Firstly, you’ll want to go through the inventory of the new property with your new Landlord. You’ll also want to ask them for copies of the gas, electricity and EPC certificates if you haven’t had them already. It can also be useful to go through your Tenancy Agreement with your new Landlord so that you can discuss anything you’re unsure of.
Lastly, it’s time to settle your affairs with your old landlord. Hand them the keys to your old property, and ask them when your deposit will be returned to you.
Congratulations! You’ve now finished the process of moving from one rental property to another!
Worried you might have to move?
Are you worried that a difficult financial situation might force you to move home? You’re not alone.
Nearly 4 million households are behind on rent, bills, or debt payments. Here at Citizens Advice Cardiff & Vale we provide free, confidential and impartial information and advice to anyone who needs it. For jargon-free help and advice, please Contact Us.
