Moving into a new house or flat can be exciting, but there are a few practical things worth doing at the start of your tenancy. Whether it's your first time renting privately or you just need a reminder, this guide covers what to check when you arrive, setting up bills, safety and some of the other jobs that are easy to forget.

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What should I do when I collect my keys?

You should normally be able to collect your keys from the first day of your tenancy. Your landlord or letting agent may ask you to arrange a collection time, particularly if lots of tenants are moving in around the same time.

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Your property should be ready for you to move into. When you arrive, have a good look around and check the condition of the property. Don't just check the furniture – look at things like:

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• walls and ceilings

• flooring and carpets

• doors and windows

• furniture and appliances

• bathroom and kitchen fittings

• any existing marks, damage or signs of damp

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If something isn't right, let your landlord or agent know in writing as soon as possible. This gives them the opportunity to sort it out and gives you a record of what you reported.

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Why is the inventory important?

Your landlord or agent may give you an inventory or condition report when you move in. This records what's in the property and its condition at the beginning of your tenancy. It can become important when you move out if there's a disagreement about damage or deductions from your deposit.

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Go through it carefully rather than assuming it's accurate. If you spot something that's damaged, dirty, missing or described incorrectly, add it to the inventory and tell your landlord or agent. Take clear photos or videos too. If possible, make sure you can show when they were taken.

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Even small marks are worth recording. A stain on the carpet or mark on a wall might not seem important now, but having evidence that it was already there could help if there's a disagreement later.

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Shelter has useful guidance on checking and agreeing an inventory.

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The Tenant Fees Act 2019 means your landlord or agent is not able to charge you a fee for any checking in processes or for completing an inventory.

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What if I haven't been given an inventory?

Ask your landlord or agent for one. If they don't provide an inventory or condition report, make your own record of the property's condition.

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Take photos or videos of each room and make notes about any existing damage, marks, missing items or cleanliness issues. Send a copy to your landlord or agent so there's a dated record of what the property was like when your tenancy began.

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It's worth doing the same thing when you eventually move out so you have a record of the property's condition at both ends of the tenancy. Your landlord or agent shouldn't charge you a separate fee for checking you in or completing an inventory.

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What if the property isn't clean when I arrive?

Your landlord or agent should have arranged any necessary cleaning before you move in. If the property isn't reasonably clean, take photos and contact them straight away. Ask them what they're going to do to resolve it.

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If something needs dealing with urgently and you end up buying cleaning products yourself, keep your receipts. You can ask your landlord or agent whether they'll reimburse you, although don't assume you'll automatically be able to recover everything you spend.

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What if there's something seriously wrong with the property?

If you think the property is unsafe or it's in a significantly worse condition than you expected, get housing advice as soon as possible. Take photos or videos and report the problems to your landlord or agent in writing.

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Don't assume that problems with the property's condition automatically mean you can end your tenancy. Your options will depend on the problem and your tenancy, and your landlord will usually need an opportunity to address repair or condition issues.

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Our Advice Team can help you understand your options.

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What should I know about my utility bills?

First, check your tenancy agreement to see which bills are included in your rent. If bills are included, check whether there's a fair usage policy or other limit on how much energy you can use. If they're not included, you'll usually need to arrange and pay for things such as:

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• gas and electricity

• water

• broadband

• a TV Licence, if you need one

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Sorting household bills directly with suppliers can sometimes be cheaper than using a bill-splitting company, so compare your options before signing up.

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Do I need to take meter readings?

Yes, if your property has meters. Take gas, electricity and water meter readings when your tenancy begins and keep a photo of each reading.

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Do this even if you're not physically moving into the property until later. Your responsibility for bills will usually begin when your tenancy does. Contact the existing energy supplier to tell them you've moved in and give them the opening meter reading.

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If you're sharing, it's also a good idea to agree how you'll manage household bills so everyone understands what they need to pay.

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How do I find out who supplies my energy?

If you don't know the existing supplier, there are online services that can help you find them. You can use the Energy Networks Association to find information about your electricity network and the Find My Supplier service for gas.

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You may also be able to switch energy supplier Uswitch is a great place to start. Check your tenancy agreement first and let your landlord know where appropriate, particularly if the agreement contains conditions about changing supplier or changing the meter.

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What should I know about my water supply?

For properties in Exeter, your water supplier will usually be South West Water. When you move in, it's also a good idea to find out where your property's stopcock is.

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The stopcock lets you turn off the water supply if there's a leak or another emergency. Knowing where it is before something goes wrong can save a lot of stress.

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What else should I locate when I move in?

Spend a few minutes finding the important bits of your new home. It's useful to know where you can find:

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• the water stopcock

• gas, electricity and water meters

• the gas shut-off valve, if applicable

• the fuse box or consumer unit

• the boiler

• smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

• fire exits and other fire safety equipment

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You don't want the first time you look for these things to be during an emergency.

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Do I need to arrange broadband?

If broadband isn't included in your rent, you'll need to arrange your own service.

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Compare providers before signing up and check the minimum contract length. This is particularly important for student housing, as you don't want to end up paying for a broadband contract long after your tenancy has finished.

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Comparison sites such as Uswitch and Compare the Market can help you compare what's available.

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What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Your landlord should provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property. The EPC gives the property an energy-efficiency rating and provides information about its likely energy use.

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It's useful to look at because the energy efficiency of your home can affect how much energy you need to use to keep it warm.

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Do I need a TV Licence?

You need to check whether the way you watch TV means you need a TV Licence. Generally, you'll need to be covered if you:

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• watch or record live TV on any channel or TV service

• watch live TV through a streaming service

• use BBC iPlayer

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This applies whichever device you use. If you have a joint tenancy, one TV Licence will normally cover the shared property. If you each have separate tenancy agreements, the rules can be different and you may need your own licence for your room.

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Check TV Licensing for the rules that apply to your household.

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Do students have to pay Council Tax?

If everyone in your household is a full-time student, you won't normally have to pay Council Tax. You may need to provide evidence of your student status so the council can apply the relevant exemption. You can request a council tax exemption certificate through SID.  

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Things can be different if you live with someone who isn't a full-time student, so don't ignore a Council Tax bill just because you're a student. Read our Council Tax advice for more information.

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If you have questions about your Council Tax account or a bill you've received, contact the council.

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What fire safety checks should I make?

Your landlord has responsibilities for fire safety, including providing the required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. At the start of the tenancy, check that you know where your alarms and escape routes are.

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After you've moved in, test your alarms regularly and report any faults to your landlord or agent. Think about how you'd get out of the property in an emergency and make sure escape routes aren't blocked.

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It's also sensible to keep keys somewhere accessible so you can leave quickly, while keeping them out of sight and reach from outside the property. For more fire safety information go to firekills.gov.uk.

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What should I know about gas and electrical safety?

Your landlord must make sure gas and electrical installations and equipment they provide are safe. Gas appliances and flues must have the required annual gas safety checks carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

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You are entitled to see the certificate, and your landlord must provide one within 7 days. If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the property and contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

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Your landlord must also arrange for the electrical installation to be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. You should be given a copy of the current electrical safety report. If you're concerned about the safety of gas or electrical equipment in your property, report it to your landlord or agent rather than trying to repair it yourself.

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Find out more about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and know the signs.

Find out more about private landlords' responsibilities.

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When are my bins collected?

Exeter City Council has an online tool where you can check your bin and recycling collection dates. Check what can go in each bin too, as not everything can be collected through household recycling.

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Glass is not collected in recycling bins so you will need to take glass to a local glass recycling bank, you can find a map of banks on the Council’s website.

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Should I get contents insurance?

You don't normally have to take out contents insurance, but you might decide it's worthwhile.

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Your landlord's buildings insurance doesn't normally protect your own belongings if they're stolen, lost or damaged. If you're considering contents insurance, compare policies and check exactly what's covered. Pay particular attention to things like laptops, phones, bikes and belongings you take outside your home.

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Your landlord or agent can't require you to buy insurance from a particular provider as a condition of your tenancy. Money Saving Expert is a useful consumer advice site and there are lots of comparison websites. You can find tips on keeping yourself and your belongings safe in our Safety Guide.

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Can I get a residents' parking permit?

Parking is limited in many residential areas of Exeter, and living in a residents' parking zone doesn't automatically mean every person in your house will be able to get a permit.

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If you're planning to bring a car, check the rules before you move in rather than assuming parking will be available.

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Devon County Council has specific information about residents' parking permits and students in Exeter.

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Should I register to vote at my new address?

If you're eligible to vote in the UK, you can register at your university address.

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Students can sometimes be registered at both their home and university addresses, although whether you can vote in both places depends on the election. Being registered on the electoral roll can also help organisations confirm your address when carrying out identity or credit checks.

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Check GOV.UK to find out whether you're eligible and register to vote.

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Can the Guild help me if things go wrong?

Moving into a rented home doesn't always go to plan. If you've arrived and found problems with the property, you're unsure about your inventory, you're having difficulties with your landlord or agent, or you don't understand your responsibilities, our Advice Team can help.

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We can talk through what's happening, explain your options and help you work out what to do next.

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Complete our enquiry form or email advice@exeterguild.com to get housing advice.

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What other support is there?

The student community warden team are a great resource for living in the community. They provide information and guidance for students living and socialising off-campus, also information for permanent local residents who live alongside students and have an interest in the University's development.

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