The moving checklist: everything to arrange and register

Moving means signing a contract and then becoming an account-opening manager for two weeks. This is the full list, ordered by what is best done first, so that on your first day in your new place there is light, hot water and wifi.

Before moving in (or on day one)

• Electricity: check whether the supply is connected. A change of account holder is quick; a new connection can take days — ask before you move.
• Water: usually handled with the municipal company; a change of account holder with the tenancy contract is normally enough.
• Gas (if the property uses it): change of holder or new connection, and check when the last inspection was.
• Internet: request installation well in advance — appointments a week or two after signing up are common.

The first week

• Insurance: check your contract to see what you are responsible for insuring. Insuring the building and structure is the landlord business; many tenants take out their own policy for their belongings and public liability.
• Town-hall registration: done at the local council with the tenancy contract. You will need it for a GP, schools or benefits.
• Change of address: bank, work, subscriptions, and mail redirection if anything important still goes to the old address.

The first month

• Check the first bill for each utility: that is where errors in the account holder or the contracted power show up.
• Photograph the state of the property if you did not do so when signing the inventory — it will save you arguments when reclaiming the deposit.
• Keep contract, inventory, deposit receipt and connection invoices together in one folder, physical or digital.

At Totukeli we are working so that much of this list comes pre-solved with the sponsored home: fibre, energy, moving or insurance benefits already negotiated when you rent through the platform.