Moving To, Or From A Flat? Trust The Experienced Professionals

This is the most comprehensive To-Do list you will need. Follow this guide for a stress free flat removal.

First thing to do is to find all documents related to your tenancy as soon as possible, Including:

• Find your tenancy agreement and any attachments or renewals to it
• Find any written agreement you've struck with your landlord
• Find the prescribed information from your deposit protection scheme
• Find your move-in inventory report
• Find a copy of the EPC
• Find a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate
• Find all receipts for your rental payments
• Find all receipts for utilities paid by you
• Find all receipts for repairs, maintenance, improvements and other property services which you paid for
• Source your communication with the landlord and letting agents, letters, emails, text messages, etc.
• Find your content insurance, if any
• Find all contracts with utility companies, and providers of Phone, TV, Internet or any other service linked to this address

Important: Review all these documents and find out how to properly end your tenancy, using the correct procedure. Find out how to cancel all relevant subscriptions and services you use at this address. Some of these can be transferred.

Check if your deposit is protected and inspect the property

• Check if your deposit is protected with a government authorised deposit protection scheme
• Inspect the property by the move-in inventory and see how much, if at all, it has deteriorated during your time renting
• Make a list of all damages and deterioration, no matter how big or small
• Find out which items are deductible from your deposit and which items are a responsibility of your landlord

Important: It's very important that your deposit is protected to ensure fair and unbiased judgement on any dispute at the end of the tenancy. If you want that deposit money back in full, you need to prepare to fight for it. If the landlord has not properly protected the deposit, they are liable for up to three times the amount in courts. If you have not received any information, your landlord is again liable.

Contact your landlord and all relevant providers

• Contact your landlord two months ahead and notify them you want to end your tenancy
• Negotiate any terms regarding ending the tenancy
• For periodic tenancies, you normally need to serve a notice one month before the move

Once settled with the landlord, and have arranged your accommodation, notify the following about changing your address:

• Letting agent
• Old Local council
• New Local council (could be the same)
• Council tax
• Electricity supplier
• Gas supplier
• Water supplied
• Landline / Mobile phone / Internet / TV provider
• DVLA
• HMRC
• Employer
• Bank / Credit Card provider
• Insurance / Pension provider
• Schools / Universities
• Doctor / Dentist / Optician / Veterinarian
• Other subscriptions that use this address

You can use a website like I Am Moving to help you contact and notify all relevant parties about your flat move

Important: Each company / organization you contact will have different terms on how you can cancel or transfer your subscription to your new address. To avoid headaches, contact them ahead of time and ask what the correct procedure is. Then simply follow the instructions when the time comes.

Organising Your Flat Move

• Confirm the move in date with your new landlord. If possible make it so that the two tenancies overlap with a couple of days, so you have enough time to move and clean the old property.
• Confirm the move out date with your current landlord. Schedule the final inspection.
• Start looking for service men to remedy all problems that are likely to cost you money from your deposit. You can likely find somebody to fix the damage for less, if you start early enough.
• Start looking for an end of tenancy cleaning company, if you plan on using one
• If you're packing yourself, start collecting boxes
• Pack seasonal items and equipment that you won't need until after you move

Last week before moving - Start packing and cleaning

• Call the current and new gas company AT LEAST 48 HOURS before moving to inform them of your move and your new address
• Call the current and new electricity company AT LEAST 48 HOURS before moving to inform them of your move and your new address
• Call the current and new local authority AT LEAST 48 HOURS before moving to inform them of your move and your new address and to disconnect / reconnect your water supply
• If you're going to clean yourself, make sure you leave at least a day for cleaning the property. End of tenancy cleaning is hard work and takes time. Don't underestimate, as cleaning is the leading cause for disputes over the tenancy deposit.
• Buy all the detergents and equipment you need
• To make it easier on yourself, start deep cleaning the property one room at a time. At the end, you only need to do a final sweep and surrender the keys

Finally - Pack Your Belongings & Wait For AA Removals

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