Deposit

Let’s say you have found the perfect home, you will need to make sure you have enough money to pay the first month’s rent and the deposit. A deposit usually costs as much as six weeks rent, but your agent or landlord will be able to tell you; or sometimes it is stated in the property details. There may be some other costs as well, but these vary between agents and landlords. You may have to pay administration and referencing fees, but your agent will be able to let you know if there are any extra costs.

Bills

As a tenant, you will take on responsibility for the household bills. This may include:

• Council tax
• Water bills
• Gas and/or electricity
• Landline phone
• Broadband
• Contents insurance
• TV license
• TV subscription charges

In some cases, landlords will cover certain aspects in the rent, but this will be stated in the property details or by the agent.

Electrical goods

Whether the property is furnished or unfurnished, you should check if there are any electrical goods included in the price, and what condition they are in. If you need anything that isn’t supplied, you will need to include the cost of purchasing these into your decision.

• Dishwasher
• Washing machine
• Oven
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Kettle
• Toaster
• Microwave

Find furniture

Because it will be your first time moving out, you most probably won’t have a lot of your own furniture. Chances are, you will need to pick up a few extra pieces and you may not have budgeted for this. There are many ways to pick up things for free, which could include asking your family and friends, or checking your local area buy/sell Facebook page. Many people give things away for free, or for a low cost.

Moving day

Start to pack at least a week before your moving in day to make sure you have enough boxes. There is nothing more stressful than leaving everything to the last minute and running out of boxes. If you are hiring a van, packing early will also help you decide what size van you will need to hire. Once you have made it to your new home, it will be time to unload and unpack. Finding the right place for your possessions may take a while, so make things easier for yourself and take a couple of days off of work, to give you plenty of time to organise it all.

Change your address

Once you have settled in to your new abode, you will need to think about changing your address. This will involve changing your address on the following:

• Passport
• Driving license – DVLA – Breakdown cover
• Bank cards
• Employer
• Local council
• Electoral register
• Car insurance
• Doctor
• Dentist

Moving into your first home can be an exciting time, and if done properly can go incredibly smoothly. Just remember to consult the above checklist and seek help from your agent, as they will be able to advise you on what you will need to do, as well as being a helping hand during your move.