When moving into your student house, there’s a lot to think about and you want to make sure you get everything on the check list done and sorted. We’ve put together a guide about what you need to do when moving in so you don’t miss anything important.
Finding the Perfect House
Make sure you look in advance for your house! Doing this will give you chance to view different properties and discover which one you and your housemates prefer. There isn’t a right time to start your house search, but many students begin looking around October/November. It’s also important to make sure you do viewings before settling on a decision as this can be a game changer. You may love the look of something online, but once you go and see it, it might not be what you were hoping for.
Another big thing to think about is the area you’re moving to. If getting the bus is a priority for you, then it might be best that you can access certain routes. If you like to walk to campus, then you might want to live close by. And if you like to nip to the shop when it feels convenient, living by a food store might be something that sounds ideal for you.
Make sure you check the inventory report before making final decisions too. This lists everything included in the house and the condition the items are in. This will help you decide what furniture you need to buy and what you don’t need to get.
The Moving in Day
One of the first things you should do is check everything works, like the locks, and speak to the landlord if you have any concerns. Things like this should be covered in the inventory report, but it’s important to check. If anything’s broken which isn’t stated in the inventory, then you need to make sure you take a note of it and let the landlord know. This way you can make sure you get your deposit back at the end of the tenancy.
On move in day, you’ll have a lot to sort and organise, and food might be something you could forget about. Make sure you have meals for the day or take a trip to the shop when you have chance.
Make sure you update your family! Many students let their relatives or friends know they’ve moved in and got everything sorted. Updates can be helpful for people close to you who are wondering how the move went.
Setting up Utilities
When moving in, you need to make sure all your bills are set up and sorted. Some of these are an easier process compared to others, but once sorted you can lay back and relax! Something like finding a broadband provider might take longer as you want to search around for the best deals. Other bills like paying for a TV licence are straight forward – this is one to remember as some people can forget about it.
On the first day, read your gas, electricity and water meters so you don’t end up paying for anything you didn’t use.
Sharing with Housemates
Remember it’s not just you living in this property, but you have housemates to think about as well. Everyone needs to be aware of the bills which have been set up and how much they’ll have to pay.
Managing Bills and Finances
Write down all your bills and when they must be paid so you can work out where your money is going. It’s also important to know how each of your bills are calculated. For example, when you first move in, you should check what tariff your water bill comes under.
If it’s a standard tariff, then this means how much water your property will use is based on data, so the price stays the same each month. However, if you have a water meter, then this will calculate how much you use and then works out how much it will cost you. It’s important to know this because you don’t want to use a tonne of water on a metered tariff and then wonder how the bill became so high. It’s also useful to check what tariff you’re on for your electricity bill which will either be fixed or standard.
Split your Bills with The Student Energy Group
We’re here to make your life easier! With The Student Energy Group, you can combine all your bills into one which can then be split between everyone in the house with our uni bills packages. This includes electricity, gas, water and more. Doing so makes everything less difficult and more convenient. If you sign up with us, we’ll plant a tree too! Get a free quote from us today.
