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Accommodation

Moving in: What to do once you've settled...

By bzemily 13 Aug 2018

So you've bagged yourself a sweet new pad!

Here's what you can do to get the most out of your accommodation:

Check the place out - is everything in order?

a bench in front of a building

Make sure you're happy with where you plan to live; if you were promised a desk and it's not there or it's missing a leg, get in touch with your landlord or agent to let them know. Once you've signed, anything you need fixing may lead to deductions from your deposit!

Take pictures 

To prove you've not damaged anything, take pictures of the condition of your room before you move all your stuff in and afterward to show you're super tidy and everything will stay that way from start to finish. You don't want to be caught out for cracked wallpaper that was there before you, do you?

Inspect detectors 

Instead of waking up to your room in flames, take a look at the smoke and carbon dioxide detectors to ensure you're safe and won't wake up to a fire. If anything seems amiss, contact your landlord or agent to let them know what's up because your safety is their responsibility.

Protect your property

a wooden door

Don't worry if your bike gets nicked, register your stuff with Immobilise to recover any items that end up lost or stolen. It's a free national property register, so you don't have to pay a penny. 

Get insured

If there's a flood and you see your laptop floating away, the last thing you want to realise is that it's not covered by any insurance. Getting contents insurance ensures your items are safe and protected, and if the worst does happen, you can always make a claim. 

Check with the Student's Union - they can help find a policy to suit you. 

Buy a TV licence 

Missing out on your favourite show can grind your gears, and if you want to have access to live TV when enjoying a cuppa you should look into buying a TV license. Consider sharing the cost with your flatmates to avoid breaking the bank and going over budget.

Look out for your bins

a bunch of items that are sitting in a box

Bin there, done that. Check to see when your bin collection days are, and make sure you don't forget to put them out - you don't want an overflowing bin problem!

Contact the Council

a person wearing sunglasses taking a selfie

Full time student? Let the Council know your status to get you exempt from paying any Council Tax - this is important to stop you spending any unnecessary money.

Find out more at runnymede.gov.uk

Introduce yourself to the neighbours 

Avoid shying away, don't be afraid to knock on the door and say hi! Getting to know your neighbours is a great way to make new friends - once you've got to know them you could even invite them round for dinner sometime...

Keep in contact with your landlord 

a person using a laptop computer sitting on top of a desk

Anything regarding gas, heating or Wi-Fi should have been taken care of by your landlord (unless you're sorting your own bills out, then get in touch with your provider). But if you're unsure about meter readings, or your broadband speed, for example, then contact your landlord or agent for support.

Good luck!