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Home You and your home Rental customers Moving in checklist

Moving in checklist

Firstly, we're delighted to welcome you and your family to your new home. We've put together this checklist of things to do, useful services and how everything works to make your move as smooth as possible. 

Read your tenancy agreement

It's important you get to know the terms of your tenancy agreement which includes your rights and responsibilities along with our responsibilities as your landlord. 

A quick overview of your tenancy terms include ensuring you: 

  • Pay your rent on time
  • Respect your neighbours, and the neighbourhood
  • Look after your home 
  • Let us in for your annual gas check, and any electrical safety inspections 

 In return we will: 

  • Maintain the structure and exterior of your home, as listed in your tenancy agreement
  • Operate a 24/7, 365 days a year emergency service and will ensure that the emergency issues are dealt with quickly, and any follow up repairs are dealt with within our timescales.
  • Carry out repairs
  • Arrange an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe engineer  

You should:

 

  • Take a current meter readings
  • Check who your suppliers are and set up your account
  • Make a note of where the meters are located, this information will be on your sign up paperwork
  • Check when your turn on gas appointment is
  • Note down meter types and the numbers of the meters 
  • Locate the main stop-tap location - this will allow you to turn the water supply off in an emergency
  • Check if there is a water meter. If so, note down the serial number, reading and location
  • Contact United Utilities on 01923 237 000 to let them know about your tenancy 

You must let your Local Authority know that you have taken this tenancy so they can register you for Council Tax. You can find a list of Local Authorities further down this page under 'Useful Contacts'. 

We recommend that you take out personal contents insurance to protect the things that matter to you the most.  

Plus Dane can help you obtain home contents insurance easily and at a price that is affordable.  While many people often hope that nothing will happen to their belongings, sometimes things can go wrong unexpectedly. 

With a special scheme called My Home arranged in conjunction with the National Housing Federation you can protect your belongings and gain peace of mind knowing if the unexpected happens you are covered. 

For more information visit www.thistlemyhome.co.uk 

If you plan on having a TV when you move into your home you should apply for a TV license. Please not that we don't provide or repair TV aerials on individual homes.

Furniture 

We know that settling into your new home can be an exciting but also challenging experience, especially when it comes to furnishing and making your space feel like home. Finding affordable furniture and flooring is essential, and we're here to help by providing advice and signposting to local resources.

There are plenty of charity shops and second-hand furniture stores across the North West that can offer great deals on pre-loved items, from sofas to dining tables to wardrobes.

  • Liverpool - Oxfam Furniture Store (Crown Street), Emmaus Liverpool (Walton Road)
  • Sefton - Southport Furniture Recycling (Sefton Street)
  • Wirral - The Furniture Resource Centre (Bromborough)
  • Knowsley - St Helens Furniture Store (Hardshaw Street)
  • Halton -Halton & St Helens Furniture Scheme (Widnes)
  • Warrington - The Furniture Bank (Chester Road)
  • West Lancashire - The West Lancashire Community Reuse Centre (Ormskirk)

Local community groups on Facebook and platforms like Freecycle are great places to find free or very affordable furniture. Check out these platforms to find gently used items from people in your area.

Search for: “Free Furniture in Liverpool”, “Wirral Free Items”, or “Sefton Freecycle” on Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle.org.

Sites like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Shpock and eBay often have free or cheap items listed by locals looking to get rid of furniture.

Some local councils provide grants or assistance for those struggling to furnish their homes. It's worth contacting your local council to find out if they offer any support. Here's some current offers:

  • Liverpool: Liverpool City Council may offer referrals to local support services for furniture and appliances.
  • Cheshire West & Chester: They provide a "Community Reuse" program where you can access second-hand furniture for low costs.
  • Knowsley: Knowsley’s community services may offer advice on getting affordable or donated furniture.

While not free, budget-friendly stores like IKEA, B&M, Home Bargains, and The Range offer furniture and homeware at low prices. You can often find great flooring deals in stores like these too.

  • The Range (Warrington, Liverpool, Knowsley): Great value on furniture and flooring.
  • B&M (Sefton, Wirral, Cheshire East): Offers affordable options on basic furniture and mats.
  • IKEA (Warrington): Known for its low-cost options on furniture and home essentials.

For affordable flooring options, check out the following DIY retailers who often have budget-friendly choices like laminate, carpet tiles, and vinyl.

  • B&Q: Locations across the North West, including Warrington and Liverpool, offer a range of flooring options at competitive prices.
  • Wickes: Various stores in Cheshire West, Wirral, and Warrington offer budget-friendly options for carpets and laminate.
  • Flooring Superstore: Based in Wirral, they offer a wide range of low-cost flooring options.

Some local charities and organisations offer free or low-cost items, especially for those in need. They collect unwanted furniture and redistribute it to people in your area.

  • Emmaus Liverpool: Offers low-cost furniture for those on low incomes.
  • The Big Help Project (Liverpool): Offers support with furniture and home essentials for people in need.

Our Empty Home Standard

We have set standards which you can expect to find when you move into your new home. You can find our Empty Home Standards document here.

Electric - British Gas - 0800 048 0202 

Gas - British Gas - 0800 048 0202 

Water - United Utilities   - 01925 237 000 

Cheshire East Council - 0300 123 5500 

Cheshire West & Chester - 0300 1238 123 

Halton Borough Council - 0303 333 4300 

Knowsley Borough Council - 0151 489 6000 

Liverpool City Council - 0151 233 3000 

Sefton Council - 0345 140 0845 

Wirral Borough Council - 0151 606 2004 

Universal Credit - 0345 600 0723 

TV Licensing - 0300 790 6144 

Debt Advice - Step Change - 0800 138 1111 

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