We understand moving can be a very stressful time for prospective tenants so we have put together a brief checklist to ensure you have all bases covered. This should ensure a smooth and hassle free transition into your new home.

Countdown to moving out

4 Weeks To Go

  • Ensure that all furniture that you will be providing in the property complies with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. You will find that 99% of buy-to-let furniture is covered and comes complete with a fire resistant label to illustrate.
  • Have you arranged a safety check for all your gas appliances, we can have our Gas Safe registered engineer do this for you at a very competitive rate. A gas safety certificate is only valid for one year so you should make a note of when it expires to ensure you are always covered. With our management service we take care of all this for you.
  • Have you arranged for a qualified electrician to carry out a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) to assess the safety of all electrical appliances? A Periodic Inspection Report is also advised at least every 3 years. We have a NICEIC approved electrician on our maintenance team so can handle all aspects of electrical work on your behalf.
  • If you are an overseas landlord, have you applied for a tax exemption form?
  • If your property is subject to a mortgage, have you informed your mortgagor? Most insist you do this for insurance purposes.
  • Ensure you are fully covered for Buildings and Contents insurance? Buildings insurance is sometimes included within a service charge or ground rent.
  • If you are the current registered occupant of the property make sure you inform your local council offices of your date of departure and your forwarding address?
  • If you are the current registered occupant of the property have you closed the telephone account?

3 Weeks To Go

  • Make sure that all fitted items (e.g. shelving and pictures etc) are safe and secure.

2 Weeks To Go

  • If you are the current registered occupant of the property ensure your mail is redirected to an address where you can collect.

1 Week To Go

  • Ensure the property is presented in the best possible way, this may involve booking a professional cleaner as they will tackle areas most landlords forgot to clean! It is essential the property is presented in best possible condition ready for the photographic inventory to take place. This will stand ground with the DPS (Deposit Protection Service) should the tenants vacate the property without cleaning to the same standard.
  • Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer, again for the above reasons ensure this is done.
  • If applicable, ensure that you mow the lawn before the tenants move in and give any garden furniture a good clean. Our maintenance team can take care of this for you.
  • Make sure that any user manuals (e.g. cooker, washing machine, dishwasher etc) are available for the tenants. We always advise to provide photocopies of the originals so if they go missing you can easily replace.
  • All deposit schemes nearly always take the side of the tenant so we highly recommend a photographic / video inventory to avoid any problems with discrepancies at the end of the tenancy. We provide FREE photographic / video inventories with our managed service.
  • Provide the correct number of keys to your agent if you have not done so already.

What happens next

Move In Day

  • Your agent will take care of all the relevant paperwork.
  • If you will be managing the property yourself then call the tenant(s) to introduce yourself.

During Tenancy

  • Your responsibilities during the tenancy are set out in the Tenancy Agreement.
  • If your property is managed any issues that arise will be dealt with by your dedicated Property Manager offering you peace of mind throughout the tenancy.
  • If you are going to manage your property yourself you will need to be on hand to deal with any potential problems or queries from your tenant.

End Of Tenancy

If you are going to manage your property yourself, the following must be taken care of at the end of the tenancy. If your property is being managed by your estate agent, they will be able to carry out these responsibilities on your behalf.

  • You should check that the services/ utilities have been returned to your name for the start of any vacant period.
  • Remember to arrange for meter readings on the day your tenant moves out.
  • The tenant is responsible for notifying the relevant service providers and local authority that they are leaving.

Moving Out Day

  • If the tenant is vacating the property, they will be required to return all the keys for your property to yourself or your agent.