New flat: the first week
Ordered by consequence rather than by room: the things at the top cost money or cause trouble if they slip, and the things at the bottom can wait a month.
33 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Day one
- Photograph every meter readingGas, electricity, water. This is the evidence in any billing dispute.
- Find the fuse box and the stopcock
- Check the smoke alarms work
- Make one bed properly
- Find the bin day and the recycling rules
- Utilities and services
- Electricity and gas account opened
- Water account opened
- Internet orderedBook it before the move if you can — it is the one with the longest lead time.
- Home insurance in place
- Council tax or local equivalent registered
- Change of address
- Bank
- Employer and payroll
- Doctor and dentist
- Driving licence and vehicle documents
- Subscriptions and deliveries
- Mail redirection set up
- Security
- Locks changed or rekeyed
- Spare key to somebody you trust
- Check every window locks
- Make it livable
- Shower curtain or screen
- Bin and bin bags
- Loo roll, soap, tea towels
- Lightbulbs for the fittings that had none
- Curtains or a temporary blind in the bedroom
- The week after
- Meet the neighbours on your landing
- Find the nearest pharmacy and late shop
- Hang one thing on a wallIt is the moment a flat stops feeling like a rental viewing.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- What has to be done on day one?
- Meter readings, the fuse box, the stopcock and the bin day. Everything else can wait, but a meter reading you did not take is a bill you will argue about.
- Which box should you open first?
- The one with the kettle, the loo roll, the phone chargers and the bedding. Pack it last and label it clearly — it buys you a civilised first night.