Tenant moving-in checklist
What to check before you sign, on the day you move in and in the first week, from the deposit to council tax and parking, plus the shorter list for a Flexiestays furnished stay.
What it covers
- What to read and check before you sign a tenancy, including the rules on deposits and rent in advance
- A move-in day list: meters, alarms, inventory photographs and keys
- Bills, council tax, TV licence and BCP parking permits, with who to call
- How to build the evidence that gets your deposit back
- How to report a repair so it is on the record
- A shorter list for a furnished stay of 28 nights or more with Flexiestays
Printable, and kept up to date: we re-check it against the official guidance and date every revision.
Where shall we send it?
We email you a link to the checklist and show it straight away.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord ask me to pay before I move in?
At the time of writing a holding deposit of no more than one week's rent, a tenancy deposit of no more than five weeks' rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, and no more than one month's rent in advance. Rent cannot be taken before the agreement is signed.
How do I know my deposit is protected?
Your landlord or agent must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give you the prescribed information, which names the scheme. You can check on the scheme's website with your details. Ask for it in writing if it has not arrived within 30 days.
Is a Flexiestays stay the same as a tenancy?
No. A Flexiestays stay of 28 nights or more is a serviced let with bills, Wi-Fi, council tax and parking included, a standard cleaning and security deposit and no fixed-term lock-in. It suits people with a home elsewhere who are in Bournemouth for work, a move or a repair.
Can I get a residents' parking permit as a tenant?
Often, if the address is in a permit zone and it is your home. BCP Council accepts a tenancy agreement among its proofs of residence, and its Bournemouth zones define a resident by the time they live there each year. Check the zone and its rules before you sign.
Ready to let or sell with Flexiestays?
Tell us about the property and we come back with a rent or price range, what it needs before it goes on the market and our fees in writing.