What you need to know about moving in to your home

Of course! It is your new home!

However please be aware, if you had mould in your previous home, you risk bringing the mould with you. Whilst homes must have the right conditions for mould to grow, the mould spores must be present for this to happen.

To prevent you bringing the mould spores, you need to fully clean all surfaces of all your furniture and property with a proper mould cleaner, BEFORE taking it in your new home.

Please be aware that absorbent materials (clothes, soft furnishings etc.) can rarely be properly cleaned and present an especially high risk of carrying mould spores, so are a risk to your health. If possible these should NOT be brought in.

Given the risks to health we take mould very seriously, and want all residents to report any signs of mould as soon as possible. We have a dedicated web page just for this.

This is where we hand over the property and make sure final pieces of administration are completed e.g.:

• We provide information about the property, such as utility suppliers, and when rubbish is collected
• We provide a property inventory and schedule of condition for you to check and comment on after you have checked it in the property
• We advise you set up a standing order for your rent, which most people do online, but we can provide a standing order form for your bank
• We obtain your confirmation you understand you are liable for any damage you cause to the property
• We provide information about how to report anything wrong with the property
• We provide a link to our guide booklet explaining the essential things you need to know
• We hand over the keys so you can move in!

Next to the Tenancy Agreement the Inventory and Schedule of Condition Report is the most important document you will have at the start of your tenancy. It protects you as it is an accurate record of the condition of fixtures, fittings and decoration in the property at the start of the Tenancy. This will be the basis of calculating any costs for damage, repairs, cleaning etc at the end of your tenancy.

Subject to the property owner’s instruction we prepare a detailed Inventory and Condition Report for you to sign at the start of your tenancy. You will have three working days to review the report and return it to us with any reasonable comments or amendments you may have. We will then clarify these comments with you.

On the last day of your tenancy we will use this report as a guide to show whether you have left the property in the same state as you found it, other than fair wear and tear. If the property is not as clean as detailed in the inventory, or there is any damage, then the cost of addressing these will need to be covered by you. See ‘What costs I am liable for at the end of the tenancy?’ in our Leaving the Property Section.

The costs associated with your tenancy are detailed here

As soon as your tenancy starts you become responsible for the payment of gas, electricity, council tax, telephone, TV Licence and water charges.

We will provide you with a link to check who your current suppliers are at the property. Please make contact with them to register the accounts in your name.

Make sure you keep your account details as you will need to contact these companies at the end of your tenancy to close your account and to prove you have no outstanding bills.

We strongly recommend that you have insurance to protect your own Contents, Personal Possessions, Pedal Cycles and other valuables as the Landlords insurance will NOT cover your items. Also if you damage the property or Owners possessions, the Owners insurers may try to recover any costs from you, so we recommend your insurance knows you are in a tenancy to ensure you have the correct cover.

Pet Damage – Where you have a pet don’t forget most insurance policies exclude damage by domestic pets.

Periodic safety checks are required for your home e.g. gas appliances must be checked annually. We will arrange these when they are due, providing you with copies of documents as appropriate. You need to allow our contractors access to ensure these are completed when requested.

However you also have a responsibility to notify us or the property owner of any concerns. You also need to look after the property properly and do the little jobs around the home that any reasonable resident might do to ensure it is safe.

Our Pets webpage answers the questions most people have and has an application form.

If you want to fix a satellite dish or cable to the property you need to get permission from the property owner. If they give permission it is likely to be on the condition that you ensure no breaches of planning or lease requirements, and you remove the dish and any signs of the fitting at the end of your tenancy.

Usually changes are not allowed to any property. With the property owner’s permission then items such as pictures etc. can be fitted, on the condition that the hooks and fixtures are removed at the end of your tenancy, along with any sign they were there. If you want to make a more substantial change, e.g. sometimes people want to decorate in a colour of their choice, then this is likely to need a specific agreement, so please contact us.