Georgia Minova,
University of East Anglia student, BSc (Adult) Nursing at the University of East Anglia, UK.
I remember when I had to move out of halls last year and move into my current house. It was so dreadful to pack everything, get rid of old clothes and things I didn’t need anymore, to arrange electricity, Internet etc.
- Do an inventory check. Make sure that you place all the furniture back to its original place. If something has broken due to wear and tear make sure you report it so you don’t get fined and lose some of your deposit. Change any broken lightbulbs if necessary. Some landlords charge £5 if you forget to do it. There will be an inspection by the letting agent and everything is expected to be in the same condition as it was when you moved in.
- Donate any clothes, shoes, bags, and other things you don’t use anymore. There are plenty of charities you can donate to, like Oxfam, Shelter Eastern Counties, and others. If you have leftover food, like cans or unopened packages, then make sure you don’t just throw it away but bring it to a local food bank. There are food banks in Tesco’s and Roys.
- Pay your final bills. Call the utility suppliers and cancel further payments after you have moved out. If you have been paying an estimate then don’t forget to ask for a reimbursement if you have used less than what you’ve paid for.
- Clean all rooms and tidy up. Recycle any leftover cardboard.
- Return your key on time! There are extra charges if you forget to return your key in time.
- Ask for your deposit! Usually, that is the extra money you’ve paid when you’ve signed a contract.
