Moving Home? Here is a checklist to help.... In this article • Tenant responsibilities for giving notice • Be well prepared for moving day • Moving to suit your budget Introduction There is a lot to remember when moving house on top of all your everyday responsibilities. To help make your move as stress free as possible you need to plan carefully and ensure you meet your legal responsibilities as a tenant. Moving is also very expensive, so save money where you can and choose services to suit your budget. Agency Come to us of course ;-) Giving notice Each tenancy agreement should stipulate how and when you can give notice to move out. You must follow the procedure carefully otherwise you could find yourself paying rent in two properties simultaneously. Inform your landlord directly or through the letting agent of your intention to move out and ensure the date gives the minimum amount of notice required. Hand the keys over personally on this date and ask for a receipt; you mustn’t simply leave the keys in the property. Be sure not to leave anything behind as you will no longer have any rights to enter the property and may be charged a fee for their removal. Packing If you are on a budget, start collecting empty boxes from your place of work or the supermarket a month before your check out date. Remember to collect newspapers and buy marker pens, packing tape and bubble wrap to do the job properly. Alternatively, you could buy a moving kit or packing boxes from an online supplier whose main aim is to simplify the moving process. When packing follow these helpful tips: • Tackle one room at a time and start with the items you rarely use • Label each box with the room type (for example ‘bed1’, ‘living1’, ‘kitchen) and either ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ • Stack boxes grouped in the above categories – aim for the ‘non-essential’ boxes to be loaded into the van first so that the ‘essential’ boxes may be unloaded first • Keep a box for cleaning products and set them aside with the hoover – you will need them especially if you are doing a domestic clean • Pack as much as you can leaving the essentials for the final week • Avoid buying a lot of groceries and try to use what you already have to avoid spills and spoiling during transit (it is a good excuse to eat out!) • Ensure everything is ready on schedule if hiring a removal service or van Using a removal service If you are going to use a removal service book as far in advance as possible – last minute removals can be very expensive. View the TTV directory of suppliers, compare prices on the internet and phone local companies for a quote. Most removal companies can supply boxes or pack for you at extra cost – this can be money well spent if your time is limited or you have a lot of belongings. Remember the following: • Inform the removal service of any access problems to either property in case special arrangements have to be made • Read the conditions of the contract thoroughly so you know exactly what is included in the cost (e.g. disassembling furniture) as well as what items are not permitted (such as jewellery and certain cleaning products) • If you are paying for the company to unpack your possessions understand whether this means simply removing the items from boxes or placing them in cupboards etc. • Find out if you need to return the packing boxes within a certain time frame and whether you will be charged extra for boxes not returned • Disassemble furniture according to manufacturer’s instructions to aid transportation and prevent unnecessary damage (unless this is included in the contract) Hiring a van Hiring a self-drive van can be a cost effective way to move if you don’t have a large house full of possessions. Look for a company that has no hidden fees, includes insurance, breakdown service, and unlimited mileage. Some companies have weekend rates while mid-week hire is cheaper if that is an option for you. Find out if it is necessary to return the van full of fuel or if you will be charged higher rates for the company to fill it up. Another way to save time and energy is by asking a few dependable friends to help out; the offer of food and drink at the end of the job can be a good incentive to get you an army of helpers. Man with a van If you don’t want to drive yourself but can’t stretch the budget to a full removal service then a “man with a van” hire is an excellent alternative. These services are much more economical than removal companies but do look into extra fees for mileage and fuel costs if you need to do more than one journey. If you have heavy items of furniture, you may need to hire an extra person for loading and unloading. When getting quotes, make sure all these factors are included, especially insurance in case of breakages or damage to furniture. Always ask for references and view the company website; the last thing you want is to see all your possessions disappear down the road, never to be seen again.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:29:14 +0000
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