► Moving in/Moving out

Moving In

Fuel supply

• Read your gas and electricity meter and contact your fuel supplier(s). You need to let your supplier know you are the new tenant(s) and give them the current meter readings otherwise you could end up paying the previous tenants bill.
• If you aren’t sure who your suppliers are telephone;
0870 608 1524 to find out who your gas supplier is
0845 124 2424 to find out who supplies your electricity

Gas safety

• Make sure you have a copy of the gas safety certificate. Your landlord is required to arrange for a gas safety check to be carried out by a Gas Safety Registered Engineer every 12 months.

Fire safety

• Check the smoke alarms work. If smoke alarms haven’t been installed already fit them yourself, they’re cheap and effective. Just make sure they comply with British Safety Standards and remember to regularly check they’re working.
• Work out your exit route. In the event of a fire you need an adequate means of escape from wherever you are in the house.

Inventory

• Ensure you have a detailed list of all the items in the household supplied by the landlord. Make sure you note the condition of the contents as well. You don’t want a deduction from your deposit for damage caused by a previous tenant.
• Take photos when you move in and out of the property to document the condition it is in
• Contact the landlord immediately if anything is damaged or missing

Deposit

• Make sure you know how your deposit is being protected. If you are an assured shorthold tenant living in privately rented accommodation your landlord or agent must protect your deposit by using a government authorised “custodial” or “insurance-based” tenancy protection scheme. For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk/tenancydeposit/

Insurance

• Take out personal belongings (contents) insurance. National Crime Statistics show students to be top of the at risk list when it comes to being burgled.

Co-tenant (s)

• Exchange “home” contact addresses with your co-tenant(s). You may need to know how to contact them if they leave without paying their share of the rent or bills.

Council Tax

• Provide the Local Authority (Council) with the Council Tax Certificate issued by the University. The Certificate gives confirmation of your full-time student status for Council Tax “exemption” or “discount” purposes.

Moving Out

Notice to quit

• Give notice to your landlord of your moving out in writing and in the time specified in your contract if this is a requirement of your tenancy agreement.

Bills

• Finalise all your bills for gas, electricity, water, telephone, internet, television etc., by contacting all the relevant suppliers. If you don’t you may not get your deposit back

Final inspection

• Make arrangements for your landlord or agent to check the property and the condition of its contents. Allowances should be made for fair wear and tear but if you have caused damage expect to come to an arrangement about deductions from your deposit.

Deposit

• Use the free service offered by the scheme that is protecting your deposit if you and your landlord or agent are unable to resolve any dispute over the amount of deposit to be returned to you. For more details visit www.direct.gov.uk/tenacydeposit/ for more details

 

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