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First-Home Checklist
Moving into your first rented place? This checklist covers deposits, bills, contents insurance and everything else you didn't know you'd need — in one tidy list.
Preview
Here's the checklist so you can see what you'll be working through. Download the file to tick things off as you go.
What's inside
A step-by-step checklist across five stages, each with tick-boxes so you can track progress:
- Before you move — set a budget, choose an area, book viewings.
- Securing the place — deposit (protected in a scheme), tenancy agreement, guarantor, inventory.
- Bills & setup — council tax, utilities, broadband, contents insurance.
- Moving in — redirect mail, update your address, take meter readings, photograph the inventory.
- Settling in — register with a GP, meet neighbours, learn bin days.
How to use it
- Start at Before you moveand work down — don't skip the budget step.
- Tick items as you go; it turns a daunting move into small, doable tasks.
- Photograph the inventory when you arrive; it protects your deposit later.
- Keep the list handy for the first two weeks — that's when most things need setting up.
Tips
- Your deposit should be protected in a government scheme — ask if you're unsure.
- Contents insurance is cheap and worth it; your laptop and bike aren't covered by the landlord.
- For money guidance alongside this, see our finance articles.
Ready to use it?
Download the Word documentand start straight away. It's yours to keep and edit.
Download First-Home Checklist