With the start of term quickly approaching we know a lot of you will be moving into your new pad over the next few weeks. Living in a shared house can be great - you have your pals close by and you can really make it your own. However, there are a few things to bear in mind before you move, and that’s where we are here to help:

When can I move in?

Firstly, it’s a pretty good idea to know exactly when your contract starts and when you can move in. If you don’t already know ask your landlord or lettings agency.

Complete the inventory and take pictures.

Make sure you complete an inventory and take pictures of all the rooms. It will help in the future when you’re looking to get your deposit back.

Get insurance.

Protect your valuables from damage or theft. Endsleigh provides student specific insurance and you receive a discount if you have an NUS card: nus.org.uk/extra

Spruce up an unfurnished house.

Are you moving into an unfurnished house? Freecycle offers perfectly good items from ending up in landfill – it’s easy to use, cheap and you may be able to kit out your whole house.

Make sure your deposit is protected.

Make sure your landlord has protected your deposit in an approved deposit protection scheme and you get evidence of this.

Know what you and your landlord are responsible for.

Your landlord is responsible for most repairs, although you need to take care of the property and carry out day to day tasks, e.g. unblocking the sink or changing light bulbs.

Understand what a joint tenancy means.

You have a joint tenancy if you and your housemates have all signed a single tenancy agreement. This means that you all have exactly the same rights and responsibilities. You are also jointly and severally liable to pay the rent, so if one of you moves out or doesn’t pay their share, the other join tenants will be responsible for paying it.

Find the utility meters

If bills are included take a note of meter readings and keep these for your records. If not, contact the utility companies with your readings and set up a new account in your name.

Budget effectively.

Don’t ignore bills. Work out exactly how much you are spending on rent and your living costs, using our budgeting tool, and keep track of the amounts you are paying on loans and credit cards.

If you would like to speak to an advisor about any housing issues you may be having, drop in to the Advice Centre located in the Students’ Union or call 01484 473446 to book an appointment.

For more advice on housing check out our Housing Guide below: