Moving in

Setting up your home & bills Maintenance Managing money Managing disputes How to live together Being a good neighbour GP & dentist Transport Staying safe

Managing a household

There are certain essentials to tick off first, which we cover in our preparing to move page- head there first!

Image of a smart meter with 2 pot plants and a house diagram in the background

Setting up your home & bills

A list of things to remember:

Take photos, document any issues, confirm your inventory
Deposit protection
Check for any issues or disrepair
Everything not as expected?Link opens in a new window
Take meter readings for utilities companies
How to read a meter
Check you know where all the important things are
Bins- it is your landlords responsibility to provide these
Water stop tapLink opens in a new window
Carbon monoxide alarm
Fuse boxLink opens in a new window
Gas safety valveLink opens in a new window
Check your smoke alarms, and ensure the gas certificate is up to date
What is a gas certificateLink opens in a new window
Set your health and wellbeing up
Off-campus health and wellbeing
Unpack and settle in!

These and more have been covered, in this handy list of things to do when you move in!

Moving in check-list »

Maintenance

Landlords are responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of the property.

Their responsibilities »

Need to report a maintenance issue, but not sure where to start? Use our maintenance report form and follow the steps below.

Template maintenance report »

Keep written records-
- Always report issues via email or through the official maintenance platform
- Save screenshots, responses, and photos of the problem.
- Note the date and time each time you report the issue.
Follow up- if there is no response in 7 days (sooner if the issue is urgent) send a polite follow-up email referencing your original report
Double check your tenancy agreement-review what the landlord/letting agent is responsible and look for clauses around response times and emergency repairs
Escalate- if dealing with a letting agency, ask to speak to a manager or supervisor. If you can't, seek help through the SU Advice Centre.

You can also escalate through your

Relevant district housing officers

Image of a man in a blue top putting a coin in a small piggy bank balanced on a miniature trolley

Managing money

Budget Smart from Day One

Moving in often comes with unexpected costs. Start budgeting early so you can enjoy your new space without financial worries. Keep a record of your expenses, plan for essentials, and know where to go for help.

Set a Budget- plan for your fixed costs (rent, bills, groceries) and give yourself a monthly spending limit.
Know what you’ll be paying- include council tax (if applicable), utilities, and one-off setup fees in your planning.
Help is available- the Warwick funding team can help with emergency support or budgeting advice.

Contact the funding team »

Going awayLink opens in a new window

The SU have pulled together some guidance on keeping your accommodation safe and secure while it is left empty.

TOP TIP: check your contract to see if you need to let your landlord know if you will not be in the property for a certain period of time.

Living with others

Image of 4 students talking, with a green area and some trees in the background

Being a good neighbour

We've talked through all the aspects of being a good neighbour in a lot more depth in our dedicated page, a quick overview:

Introduce yourself

Introduce yourself to your neighbours, you can do this by going round and knocking on the door or by putting a card through their letterbox, letting them know who you are and that you want to get along.

As well as being good manners, they’ll be able to give you useful information about the area, such as collection days for rubbish. It’ll also give you an idea as to what their particular priorities are – helpful for keeping on the right side of them. If you build a good relationship with your neighbours, they may keep an eye on your property for you, hold your spare keys or help out in an emergency.

Be respectful with noise

Be aware that your neighbours are likely to have a different lifestyle to you – maybe working shifts, getting up early in the morning or taking care of young children. Try to keep stereos/TVs away from adjacent walls and try to keep noise down when coming home late at night. In residential areas, there’s a general expectation that there will not be excessive noise at any time and that there will not be noise at all after about 11pm on weekdays.

If you're having a problem with noise then please reach out to the relevant local authority to report it:

Warwickshire »Coventry »

Waste and recycling

Local residents are likely to have strong feelings about how their neighbourhood looks and they will want their house, and houses and gardens around them, to stay in a state of good repair.

Make sure you know when your rubbish collection day is and don’t leave rubbish out in the street or front garden or where the bin could cause an obstruction. You'll usually need to put your bin out by the curb one day each week, and remember to bring it back in once it's been emptied.

Rubbish collection days and information on recycling:

Warwickshire »Coventry »

Fireworks

Please be considerate of your neighbours when letting off fireworks, and where possible give them forewarning. It is important that you buy appropriate fireworks, please do not buy industrial-grade or heavy-duty fireworks.

Please make sure you follow the correct safety proceduresLink opens in a new window, and do not let them off on the street or in public areas unless you have permission to do so.

Hosting parties

If you’re planning a party, let your neighbours know in advance and tell them what time it will end. Friday or Saturday nights are more acceptable than mid-week, and, unless your neighbours are very relaxed, weekly parties may not be welcomed.

It is important to note that depending on your residence there might be a legal limit on the number of attendees for safety purposes. In general, for larger parties, it is recommended that you move a party to a local venue. Some venues may even allow free booking if you're bringing in a large number of people- why not phone and ask!

Parking

Make sure you're considerate to others when parking your car on the street. If there is only on-street parking available, be aware that you have to share the space with others and you may not be able to park outside your house all of the time. Make sure that you park sensibly avoiding blocking your neighbours in or causing them problems getting out of their drive.

Get involved locally

It’s your community whilst you’re living there, so why not get involved? Support the area by using local shops, cafes and takeaways. Explore your local events:

Coventry »Leamington »Kenilworth »Canley & Tile Hill »

You could also take advantage of opportunities to get involved in the local community through voluntary work. Find out more about the huge number of opportunities available through Warwick Volunteers.

Warwick Volunteers »

Problems with your neighbours?

If you do experience problems with neighbours, it’s always best to try and talk to them first to resolve any differences amicably.

However, if you need some support, contact the SU Advice Centre on 024 765 72784, through their email or their online contact form.

They have also pulled together information on what can happen if your neighbour complains about you:

Dealing with neighbour complaints »

Managing disputes

If you have any conflicts, we recommend that you handle conflicts respectfully- disagreements happen. The SU Advice Centre can help support you through any disputes, or the universities mediation service may be able to help if a third party is needed!

Get support »Or mediation »

How to live together

Sharing a home can be a great experience if everyone communicates clearly and respects shared spaces. Avoid misunderstandings early by agreeing on expectations around noise, cleaning, and visitors.

Our Tips:

Flatmate Agreements- sit down together early to discuss cleaning rotas, bills, shopping, and house rules

Housemate agreement »

Raise any issues directly, calmly and respectfully- disagreements happen. Talk it out, and try to remember that people may have hidden things happening that could be impacting them.

Managing conflict »

Respect shared space and the planet- turn off lights and appliances, recycle properly and avoid food waste.

Living habbits »Appliances »

Local life & services

We've pulled together a lot of guidance on the various other elements of moving in across our pages, you can find them by clicking on the links below!

MyWarwick