Getting the keys to a new flat feels like the finish line, but it's really the start of a short checklist that decides how smooth the next few weeks turn out to be. Skip it and you can end up chasing a landlord for a broken boiler, disputing a deposit with no evidence, or opening a bill for gas you never used. This guide covers exactly what to check on the day you move in, whether you're renting your first flat or buying somewhere new.
Read the Inventory Before You Sign Anything
Start with the paperwork, not the boxes. If you're renting, ask for the check-in inventory and walk round the flat comparing it item by item before you sign it. This single document is what protects your deposit later. Around 4.7 million tenancy deposits are currently protected in England and Wales, and in the year to March 2025 only 1% of them ended up in a formal dispute, according to the NRLA's Tenancy Deposit Scheme review. The tenants who avoid disputes are almost always the ones who photographed everything and queried the inventory on day one, not after they'd moved out.
Take Meter Readings on Day One
Do this before you unpack a single box. Photograph the gas and electricity meters as soon as you're through the door, even if the previous occupant left readings of their own. Ofgem's own guidance says you should take fresh readings the day you move and give your new supplier notice as soon as possible so the account starts in your name, not a stranger's. Suppliers must also issue a final bill within six weeks of a move-out under Ofgem's rules, so a clear reading from day one saves you arguing over a bill you didn't rack up.
Test Every Key, Fob and Entry System
A flat has more locks than a house ever will. Beyond the front door key, check you've got a working fob or key for the communal entrance, the post room, any bike store, and the lift if the building has one. Test each one before the agent or landlord leaves, not after they've driven off. If your new home is part of a bigger block, our flat removals crews deal with building access every week and always confirm fobs and lift bookings the day before a move, so nothing holds up the van on arrival.
Check Fixtures, Fittings and Smoke Alarms
Check these before the landlord is out of reach. Test every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, run the taps for hot water, and check the boiler fires up properly. Open every window to make sure the locks work, since this matters more in a ground-floor or first-floor flat than anywhere else. Note any existing scuffs, stains or damage with dated photos and send them to your landlord or agent in writing that day. It's a five-minute job that can save a five-week deposit argument.
Update Your Address Before the Post Piles Up
Redirect your post before you forget. Royal Mail redirection, your bank, your GP, the DVLA and the electoral roll all need your new address, and most of it can be done online in under half an hour. Council tax is worth doing on move-in day itself, since some councils backdate charges if you're slow to register. If you've still got boxes you're not ready to unpack, our secure storage option keeps everything safe while you get the admin sorted first.
Know Who to Call When Something Goes Wrong
Save these numbers before moving day, not after. Get the direct line for your landlord or managing agent, the building's out-of-hours emergency contact, and the number for whoever holds the keys to shared plant rooms or bin stores. New-build flats often come with a snagging period, so ask what counts as a defect and how long you have to report one. A five-minute phone call on move-in day is far easier than hunting for a number when a pipe bursts at 11pm.
Unpack With a Plan, Not a Panic
The first night matters more than people think. Get the bed built, the kitchen boxes unpacked and the bathroom sorted before you touch anything else, since those three rooms make a flat feel liveable straight away. If you'd rather hand the whole job over, our packing and unpacking service puts boxes in the right room and clears the packaging as it goes, and a man and van booking works well for a one or two-bedroom flat where a full lorry would be overkill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the first thing I should check when I move into a new flat?
Check the inventory against what's actually in the flat and take meter readings, both on the same day. These two things protect your deposit and stop you being billed for a previous tenant's energy use.
How soon should I take meter readings after moving in?
As soon as you're through the door, ideally before you start unpacking. Photograph the reading and send it to your new supplier the same day so your account starts from the correct figure.
What if the check-in inventory doesn't match what I find?
Note every discrepancy in writing and send it to your landlord or agent with photos before you sign anything or settle in. A signed, accurate inventory is the main evidence used if there's a deposit dispute later.
Do I need to tell the council I've moved straight away?
Yes, register for council tax on move-in day if you can. Some councils backdate charges to your actual move date, so a delay in registering doesn't avoid the bill.
Can Just Removals London help with the move itself, not just the paperwork?
Yes, we cover the whole move from packing through to unpacking at the other end. Tell us your flat's access, floor and fob or key situation when you book and we'll match the right crew and vehicle to the job.
Moving into a new flat is exciting, but the first hour with the keys is when the small checks pay off for months afterwards. Get the inventory, the meters and the entry systems sorted before the boxes come out and everything else falls into place. If you'd like help with the move itself, get in touch for a free, fixed-price quote and a crew who know London flats inside out.