Before you move in

Before moving into your new home, there are a few essential processes that you need to put in place, from securing a returnable deposit and setting up utilities to knowing your rights as a tenant. Take the time to review these important details to start your off-campus experience with everything in place.

Understanding Deposits

A deposit is an upfront payment you pay to your private agent or landlord when renting. It is used as security for any potential damages or unpaid rent you may make during your tenancy. If everything is in order when you leave the property, them make sure you get it back!

When you make a deposit, it should be protected with a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme. It is the responsibility of your landlord to secure the rent deposit with one of the following three schemes:

If your rental deposit is not protected by your landlord then you have a legal case, for more information check this out here. If you need further help then do not hesitate to reach out to the SU Advice Centre, who may be able to give you further guidance.

Inventory

When you arrive, you may be asked to document an inventory of items in your new place. As soon as you move into your new home, make sure to take these steps to prepare for getting your deposit back:

Take photos of the property at the start of your tenancy.
- Make sure to also take pictures at the end of your tenancy.
Document and report any damages or cleanliness issues.
- Focus on ovens, electricals, showers, windows, curtains, and carpets/floors.
Sign the inventory only if it accurately reflects the property’s condition.

A person taking a picture of inside their house

Take time to read the SU's Deposits page to learn more about deposit protection, and how to get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy.

Utilities

When renting a property, you may need to set up your utilities. This usually includes setting up gas, electricity, water, and internet bills for your home.

First check what's included in your tenancy agreement to see if any utilities are included in your rent. For example, PBSAs typically offer rooms with bills included in the rent. For properties, ask your landlord or agent if there is a bills-inclusive option for your rent. If this isn't possible, and if utilities aren't included in your rent, you’ll need to arrange them yourself.

Setting Up Your Bills

You can either set up each bill individually by finding suppliers for gas, electricity, water, and internet or use a bill-splitting service that provides a package covering all the utilities you need. There are 2 guides that may help you to understand how to start looking for utilities, setting up individual bills and what a bill means:

Save the Student: Guide to bills

Split the bills: Where to start

A person twisting the knob on a radiator

Here's our advice for setting up your utilities:

Set up bills early Shop around for the best deals Organising your bills individually or using a bill-splitting service

Pros of using a bill-splitting package service:

You only need to pay for one service to cover the cost of all of your bills.
If you are in a group, everyone individually pays for their share of the split bills to the bill-splitting service.

Cons of using a bill-splitting package service:

Package services tend to be more costly than organising your bills yourself as you are paying for this convenience.

Pros of organising your bills individually:

You can choose the most cost-effective or reliable providers for each utility (gas, electricity, water, internet).
Paying based on actual usage (variable bills) can save money if you and your housemates are mindful of energy consumption.

Cons of organising your bills individually:

Researching and setting up each utility takes time and effort.
Tracking payments and direct debits:
- Organising bills individually means you need to monitor each provider yourself to make sure payments are made on time.
- If you're living in a group, one person might need to handle paying the total of everyone's bills through direct debit (where one person regularly pays on behalf of everyone). If someone is paying by direct debit for the group, make sure everyone agrees to pay them on time.

Understanding fixed and variable/pay-as-you-go bills

Fixed bills: You pay a set amount each month to your provider, regardless of your actual usage. This is typically included in bill package deals.

Variable/Pay-As-You-Go bills: You pay based on your actual usage for utilities like gas, electricity, and water. The more you use, the more you pay.

If you choose a variable bill service, being mindful of your energy and water usage can help keep bills low. Simple things like turning off lights when you leave, shortening shower times, and avoiding unnecessary heating (e.g. in spring and summer) can make a big difference.

Consider your group's budget

Budgeting and Finance- Contents Insurance

Ensure you have considered the cost of where you want to live and what lifestyle you want to lead. Most important is ensuring you have the right protection, including contents insurance for your personal possessions.

Check out our budgeting section to learn what other considerations you might need, or have a look at the Student Funding pages for more guidance!

Flatmate Discussions - How to Live Together

Everyone approaches living together a little differently, having chosen your flatmates for next year remember that discussions around budgeting and utilities are just as important. These could include:

If you would like to share the costs of house staples, i.e. toilet paper, washing up liquid, bin bags
Cleaning charts/chore rotas - how often would you like to clean the house, who will do which parts and what are the daily expectations around tidiness
Inviting guests over:
- When does it need to be checked with the others living in the house and when is it ok to be more impromptu
- Rules for overnight stays
- Setting boundaries for when dates or romantic partners come to visit (especially important for flatmates currently dating who may want to bring them home)
- What to do when someone wants to throw a party, and how to accommodate for everyone's needs
Who will be in charge of making payments and ensuring they've been made, i.e. bills or rent
- Within this, you may also want to discuss parameters around turning the heating on or off
- What to do if someone misses a payment

Consider pulling this all together in on place, these are normally called housemate agreements and can be a handy tool for getting everyone on the same page!

Housemate Agreement