Moving in
It's important to us that we make sure all properties are in good condition before we hand the keys over to you.
There are a few things we do before you move in so you can make your place feel like home as soon as possible.
What we do before you move in
Before you move in, we will:
- Make sure your home is safe and free from health risks
- Arrange any non-urgent repairs at a time that suits you
- Clean and clear the property
- Check gas and electric supplies
- Make sure windows and any electrical items we provide are safe and working.
What to expect when you move in
When you move in, we will:
- Tell you the EPC rating (energy performance) of your home
- Give you two sets of door keys
- Give you two fob keys if you live in a block of flats
- Give you your tenancy agreement, which explains your rights and responsibilities
- Share our New Homes Standard, which shows what repairs you can expect.
We aim to finish all repairs before you move in. If any small repairs are left, we will book a time to complete them when you sign for the property.
If we are planning bigger improvement works, we will wait until they are due before starting.
If you’ve already moved in and feel your home doesn’t meet the standard, please contact us (this link will open in a new window.)
What about my gas and electricity?
When you get your keys to your new home, we will:
- Show you where your gas and electric meters are
- Explain how to pay your energy bills.
You can switch energy supplier at any time.
If your home uses gas, the supply will have been turned off while it was empty. We will arrange for a gas engineer to:
- Turn the gas back on
- Carry out a safety check (called a “turn on and test.”)
What if I need more support?
If you need help with:
- Getting furniture
- Claiming benefits
- Finding work.
Please contact us. We’re here to help.
Moving home checklist
When you move home, don’t forget to contact:
- Your gas, electric and water suppliers
- Your phone, internet, TV and satellite providers
- Your old and new council about Council Tax and Housing Benefit. Click here to find your previous and new local authority (this is a link to another website.)
- The Post Office to redirect your mail. Click here to make sure your post is sent to your new address (this is a link to another website.)
- The TV Licensing team. You can change your TV license here (this is a link to another website.)
- Your insurance and breakdown cover companies
- Your bank, credit union or building society
- Credit card and store card companies
- Your doctor, dentist, hospital, optician and vet
- The Driver and Vehicle License Authority (DVLA) for your vehicle tax and MOT. Click here to do this on DVLA website (this is a link to another website.)
- Your employer, DWP and HMRC
- Your children’s school or college
- Pension providers
- Any home care or support services you use.