Whether you’re a second-year student moving off-campus with a group of friends, a group of young professionals sharing a property, a city slicker who needs to house-share to keep his costs low, or a couple who want to keep the financial burden of living together as fair as possible – how you split the bills is going to have a big impact on your relationship with your housemates.

We’ve broken down how you could choose to share your household costs – and what to avoid – to help you manage your existing or brand new house share.

Joint accounts for bill splitting

Let’s start with what to avoid when splitting bills. On the surface, setting up a joint account for your household bills seems to make a lot of sense. It ensures total transparency between housemates. It’s an effective way to make sure bills are paid in full and on time. It also tends to be straightforward for money management.

However, there are some serious financial risks that come with being tied to your housemates, particularly if you don’t know each other that well.

The potential financial risks

When you open a joint account with someone, you remain connected with them for far longer than you may realise. After the account is closed, you’re financially linked to everyone named on the account for another six years.

This means that anything they do in that time can impact your credit score. The hardships of someone you may never speak to again could affect your chances of getting a car, a mortgage and much more.

For this reason alone, getting a joint account for splitting your bills as a house-sharer isn’t generally recommended.

So, here’s what we would suggest.

1. Nominate a person for each bill

If you’ve ever shared before, you may have used this method to pay utility, broadband, and other bills. Each housemate can set up each bill using a different person’s account. The other housemates then pay their share monthly or quarterly.

The different bills that need setting up are:

• Gas and electric
• Water
• TV license
• Broadband
• Council tax (note: students are exempt from council tax)

The pros and cons

The advantage of this is that everyone’s shouldering their share every month or quarter. That means everyone’s more inclined to pay each other back— after all, it’s only fair.

Sometimes the maths can get a bit complicated if two flatmates get into the “if I subtract what you owe you for the gas bill and I’ll pay the rest for the water” debacle. Or, occasionally, you get that one person who simply refuses to pay up after months of nagging.

A simple spreadsheet

When you’re living with people you trust, managing this method shouldn’t come with too much stress.

To keep on top of who owes what, you can track of everything on a monthly basis through a simple spreadsheet. This will make any issues that may crop up simple to rectify, as you’ll have a detailed breakdown of who paid what and when.

This would also be useful to keep a note of the date that tariffs may change. The sheet then becomes a single source of truth for how much everyone should be paying each month.

2. Third-party, bill splitting platforms

Alternatively, with the rise of technology has come a million and one different ways of doing pretty much anything, and that includes paying your bills. Bill splitting apps are becoming increasingly popular with house-sharers, but they come in many different forms.

You can combine your utilities into a single amount through certain platforms, which split and charge them equally between each tenant.

Just as you would shop around for the best value energy provider, it’s worth comparing and contrasting your options when it comes to bill-splitting apps, as many leading platforms are completely free to use.

acasa is one, bill-splitting option

We know house sharing gets complicated, especially when it comes to splitting bills – that’s why we created acasa to do it for you. Plus, we’ve got some great deals on the household services you may still need to set up. In short, we’re the best housemate you’ve ever lived with.

Get a free quote

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Top Websites for Finding a Flatmate

SpareRoom

SpareRoom is probably the most well-known housemate finding platform. Becoming a spare wheel for an existing houseshare might seem daunting but, with SpareRoom, you have the extra option of “buddy ups”, where you can find other people looking for accommodation.  You’ll have a greater say in building a house or flatshare from scratch with like-minded people.

SpareRoom is not only easy to use, but it has a focus on safety, regularly vetting property listings. It also encourages people to rent out rooms to increase the availability of affordable rental accommodation. Plus, it partners with Crisis to help support homelessness and has a competition for someone to win a month’s rent per month – so, if you’re feeling lucky, you might want to give it a try.

ideal flatmate

ideal flatmate’s focus is helping you find flatmates that have a strong chance of becoming your friends. It serves more as a social network for flat-hunters rather than just a flatmate hunting tool. You start by taking a survey about your living habits to help quickly connect you with the right new flatmate.

From there, you can easily message other flat seekers from their profiles to ask them questions to see if you’d get on well together. You can then create a group and browse for your perfect home. You’re also able to list an empty room in your flat for flat hunters to discover.

Badi

Originally launched in Spain back in 2015, Badi offers a free app that uses AI to help you to find your next house or flatmate. You share some information about your age, gender, personality and other details, such as whether you’re a student or in full-time work.

Then, the algorithm filters through and matches you to housemates, rather than simply a property, as is normally the case. Once you’ve found a place and flatmates you like, you can pay your deposit securely through the app to reserve it.

Coliving.com 

Coliving.com leans on the “co-living” concept which puts the emphasis on finding a like-minded community of people to live with. An international platform, Coliving.com can help you find this type of accommodation all over the world. It’s a great way to meet new people, especially if you’ve relocated.

You’ll of course get your own space – sometimes with your own ensuite and private kitchen – but with larger shared spaces where everyone can come together to socialise. It’s all-inclusive too – plus, you can rent on an individual basis, rather than committing to a joint contract with people you don’t know.

Once you’ve found a room that looks good to you, you share some basic information, then reserve it. The Coliving team will then check your profile to make sure that it matches the community you’ve applied to join.

Cohabitas

There are some slightly more niche sites out there too – such as Cohabitas. Renting and house sharing can make financial and social sense at any age, and plenty of people may have a their own home with a spare room that they’d like to rent out. Cohabitas helps match over-40s with compatible potential housemates.

It’s free to register your details and have people contact you – but, to have full freedom to find the right home, you may need to upgrade to the Premium version of the service. This will allow you to contact anyone on the platform, rather than simply those that have already upgraded.

What’s next?

Once you’ve found the right property – and perfect housemate – for you, there are other ways to make sure that you make a success of living in your househare. You can look into how to set up some simple house rules, where you can save some money, and find out how to to split your bills in the best way so it’s fair for everyone. You could even get a free app like acasa to help you manage those bills or get some of the key services that you’ll need in your new home set up for everyone’s benefit.

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Whether you’ve recently entered into your first house share, or are going out for a meal, the sticky subject of how to divide up all the costs is going to come up at some point—if it hasn’t already.

From splitting the bill at dinner and haggling over who had a starter to divvying up the costs of running your household in a way that feels fair for everyone, acasa, an innovative bill splitting and household management, can help to put your concerns at ease.

When should you split the bill equally?

In most cases it’s perfectly fine to split the bill evenly with your friends. For certain things, where individual usage cannot be worked out, for example, it may prove the best option. These might include:

Rent: You all knew what you were signing up for with this one, even before you viewed it for the first time. Chances are you all agreed an upper limit of what you’d be willing to pay when you went on the hunt for your perfect property, and that should account for any changes in your financial situation. If the drop in your budget is really that dramatic, it might be time to consider downsizing, living elsewhere or moving back home rather than asking your friends to cover for you.

Utility and broadband bills: It’s pretty hard to measure everyone’s exact individual energy usage in the house. But chances are that if you’re all regularly in the house with the lights on, showering, cooking and charging appliances, there isn’t a dramatic difference between you. Aside from exceptional circumstances—see below—it’s best just to chop this one into even chunks.

TV license: Your TV license isn’t measured by usage, it’s just a flat fee you pay to be able watch programmes on your TV. There’s no point haggling over it. Even if one of you is an avid EastEnders fan, who’s to say that someone else won’t find a show they can’t get enough of later on in the year?

A group activity: A fun group activity, such as bowling, is another example of something which is best split equally. Whether you win or lose, you still went bowling and should pay the same as everyone else!

When can you deviate?

Under certain circumstances, it might be acceptable for you to approach your friends with the idea of paying slightly less—or more, if you’re feeling generous—than everybody else. But remember, you can’t be selfish: your decision needs to be fair to the whole house.

Varying bedroom sizes: Some households agree to pay different amounts in rent based on the space they get to themselves. No, don’t get your tape measure out, I doubt anyone’s going to let you pay less because your room is 30cm narrower than your friend’s. If there is a substantial difference—as in, the biggest bedroom is twice the size of the smallest—you may have a case for yourself.

Different restaurant orders: If you’re short of cash, but still go out for a social meal with mates, the one thing you don’t want to happen is for someone to suggest splitting the bill equally between you all – after all, you didn’t pass on dessert only to pay for someone else’s!

Once you’ve decided how everything is going to be divvied up between you and your friends, whether it’s in a shared house or at your local Wetherspoons, systems such as a bill splitting apps can help you keep track of your finances and ensure that everything remains fair between friends.

And if you’re ever unsure about whether you need to pay someone back for something, there are some handy guides out there to help you decide. It can be a tricky thing to handle, but having an app to hand and good communication always helps.

Use acasa

acasa is a bill sharing and household management platform designed for students and house sharers. With acasa, you can avoid unnecessary conflict around splitting utility bills in a shared house or other situations where the splitting of a bill may be required, such as at a restaurant, using our specially designed balance tracking systems.

If you’re interested in an app which can help with the division of house payments as well as other bill splitting situations, why not download the acasa app today.

Get a free quote

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But along with all these exciting firsts comes a few things that are important to get right. You want your first experiences in your new apartment to be good ones, so it’s worth knowing a few tips that will help you on your way.

Manage your finances

Moving into an apartment isn’t something that comes cheap. And it’s not just the rent you need to worry about. There’s likely to be a hefty (and upfront) deposit, not to mention decorating and furnishing.

To stay high and dry, it’s worth checking out our money saving tips – and saving up the first few months’ rent in advance of your move in date. It might be frustrating at the time, when you’re still living with flatmates or your parents and know you have the money not to, but in the long run it’s the sensible thing to do.

Once you’re in your contract, there’s no going back. So, just in case you have any unexpected outgoings to factor in, having your rent money saved a few months in advance will be a blessing you’ll thank yourself for.

Explore the surroundings

We can’t stress the importance of this tip enough. There’s nothing worse than moving into the apartment of your dreams, getting a great deal and then realising exactly why the place was the price it is (hint: it’s the area).

It’s vital that you feel safe and comfortable in your home, and a lot of this is determined by location. So, before you go making any offers and signing any contracts, make sure you get to know the area really well. Inside out in fact. You need to know where the closest shop is, the transport on offer and what the area is like as all times of day and night.

Trust us, you’ll feel a lot better about paying for somewhere to live if you like the location. This tip really is a no brainer. Location is just as important as the apartment itself, and you wouldn’t say ‘yes!’ to that without checking it out first, would you?

Talk to your landlord or agent

Strictly speaking, the landlord or your agent is your main point of contact for anything to do with your new apartment. It’s their job to make sure you’re happy with where you’re living and feel 100% ‘at home’ there.

So, if something’s not quite right, speak to them. Some landlords re-decorate after every tenant so, you never know, by making contact early enough you might even get a say in the paint colours and flooring.

Generally, the landlord or the last tenant is supposed to paint the entire house, clean it and give it to you as new as possible. So ensure to check up on your landlord about when the apartment will be ready after all these works, making the house feel even more like your home.

Setup your utilities ahead of time

Some landlords will provide their own connections for water, gas, internet and electricity, but in some places you will need to set those things up yourself. It’s best to inquire and get the details from the landlord and call the utility companies to set it up before you move in, especially when it comes to the basics like water, electricity and gas. You can set up the other things like internet and cable a few days after you move in too.

By setting up all your utility providers in advance, everything will be ready to go for move-in day, alleviating stress on the day and reducing the risk of being charged standard rates by the previous provider.

Make your house a home

Even if you’re on a tight budget you’ll need to spend some money on basic furnishings like a bed and chairs. You can visit the local second-hand furniture shops in the area or search for items on online for sale sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree to get good quality furniture at cheap prices.

Sometimes, when relatives hear that you are moving into a new apartment all on your own, they may offer to give you some old furniture for free. No matter the style, as long as these offerings are reasonable quality, take them. You’d be surprised how handy they might turn out to be in the future. What’s more, upcycling donated items can save you a considerable amount of money and mean our house is full of one-of-a-kind pieces.

Change your address

This is a bit of a tedious one, but nonetheless it has to be done. Changing your address with everything from your doctor’s surgery to your Amazon account is a vital and inevitable part of moving house.

To prevent the stress of accidentally getting a delivery to your old address, make sure that this task is high on your priority list when you move in. Oh, and make sure you let your friends and family know you’ve moved too!

Hire a removal service

Moving house is tough for anyone. You might think you don’t have much to move, but once you start pulling it out and packing it up, you’ll soon realise there’s more to do than you anticipated.

One way to reduce the stress of the moving process (and save you a pretty tough job) is to hire a professional removal service.

Not only will this save you countless trips to and from your old house with five or six boxes at a time, but it’ll also save you a lot of time and stress.

Yes, hiring a removal company will cost you money, but honestly, they’re worth it. If you haven’t got lots of help and a transit van to hand, hiring a removal company is something you won’t regret.

Get a free quote

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No one wants passive aggressive lists of what they can and can’t do, but a house share without some basic ground rules can soon result in anarchy.

If you don’t want to rub your housemate up the wrong way with unreasonable requests, acasa has got you covered. In this blog post we discuss what’s reasonable when it comes to setting house rules. Read on to find out more.

Respect

If your house share has one rule in place, it should be respect for one another. Respect for your personal space and belongings needs to be established from day one. In a house share everyone is paying money to live there and, as such, has equal say about the day-to-day running of the house.

From making clear that helping yourself to other peoples food is definitely not okay and setting boundaries between communal and personal space, respect is the fundamental ground rule that every shared house should have in place.

Cleaning

We’ve all heard horror stories about housemates that refuse to clean their dishes, leaving the sink overflowing with plates that are growing cultures. And we’ve all heard these stories about the poor individuals that had to clean up after them.

No house sharer should be forced to do more than their bit of the house work. Creating and implementing a cleaning rota is definitely a reasonable action to take. If you all agree on something that’s written in black and white, lazy housemates are left without a leg to stand on.

A cleaning rota can include tasks like:

• Hoovering
• Mopping
• Cleaning the kitchen
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Dusting
• Emptying the bins

With a cleaning rota, everyone knows what they’re meant to do and when—no excuses.

Noise

When the only thing that’s got you through the day is the thought of getting tucked up in bed for an early night, the last thing you want is to be rudely awoken by booming music, loud laughter or, worse, an unannounced house party.

Putting rules in place when it comes to noise is always reasonable, and is something that will benefit everyone at some point.

The commonly agreed quiet times for shared houses are based on noise nuisance legislation, which states that a premises should avoid noise between the hours of 11pm and 7am.

You might have exceptions to this rule now and again, such as for special occasions like birthday parties, which is fine. The important thing is to make housemates aware well in advance and be considerate at all times.

Bills

If there’s an argument between housemates that’s not about cleaning, respect or noise levels, you can guarantee that it’s about bills. That’s because a houseshare isn’t just about sharing space, it’s also about divvying up things like gas, water, and electric fees.

But this becomes difficult when one housemates takes longer showers, and another has a tendency to crank the heating up a couple of degrees without consulting others first.

Even the happiest of houses can turn sour when it comes to working out who pays what for utilities. Having set rules in place that clearly state who needs to pay for what is one of the best ways to avoid finance-related arguments.

Whether your house agrees to pay equal for all the utility bills, or splits them based on individual usage, having a system in place is without a doubt worthwhile.

If you’re moving into a houseshare, or you’re already in one, setting rules is essential. But more important is to devise reasonable requests that everyone can agree on and abide by. Using our tips for setting reasonable rules will ensure your house stays happy and runs smoothly.

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With a few simple tweaks like working a little more closely with your housemates, making easy switches to eco-friendly energy providers and sharpening up your recycling knowledge, you can achieve a green house share – and save some money at the same time. Here’s how.

1. Cut food waste

We’ve all seen the fridge in a student house share. There are three half-used bottles of ketchup and four containers of out-of-date milk. To avoid food wastage, devise a system with your housemates where you agree to share certain household food items that you all use on a daily basis.

That said, this isn’t license to steal your housemates’ food. Make sure everyone is on board. Furthermore, find out whether or not there’s food wastage collection in your area and apply for a food waste bin to ensure that what you don’t use goes to a good place.

2. Switch to eco-friendly lightbulbs

Lightbulbs might seem like small, simple things, but using the right one can go a long way when it comes to energy consumption. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that we could all save £35 a year on electricity bills if we switch to LED lightbulbs.

While that might not seem like a lot in savings, consider also that LED bulbs tend to last much longer than ordinary lightbulbs. That means that in addition to monetary savings, you’re also saving on wastage, too.

3. Turn off, don’t stand by

If you turn off your appliances at the wall, rather than leaving them in standby mode, you could save another £35 a year. You can even buy a “standby saver” to switch off multiple devices in one go.

Similarly, make sure you’re monitoring how much you’re using your kitchen appliances. Small things like only filling the kettle with the water you need can help you save the planet and save around £6 per year – and all these little extra savings add up for you and your housemates.

3. Recycle, recycle, recycle

In today’s climate, recycling is more or less a given. But you’d be surprised on what you can recycle and what you can’t. For instance, the Guardian reported that, according to the British Science Association, many Britons wrongly think you can recycle dirty kitchen roll and paper towels. To ensure you cut down on purchasing and using items that can’t be recycled, it’s important to do your research.

On top of that, you can recycle more than just waste. Repurposing or repairing old items instead of buying new ones, or buying vintage furniture from charity shops can help cut down on consumption.

4. Use an eco-friendly energy provider

Not all energy providers are created equal, especially where green energy is concerned. Instead of using traditional methods of acquiring energy, some are going above and beyond on the green front, getting their energy from renewable sources like the sun, water and wind.

If you’ve found that your energy provider isn’t getting their energy from renewable resources, consider switching – although you should do your research first on the rates they charge and how firmly established that supplier is while the energy crisis is ongoing.

5. Commit to less waste as a house

As we all know, it’s going to take a lot more than just one person’s commitment to helping the environment to make a lasting impact on the world. It’s a group effort, one that you can make with your housemates by sharing reusable household items and committing to going green as a home.

Start by bulking up your supply of reusable containers for leftover food and reusable bags for shopping. Additionally, if one of your housemates has a car, take group trips to the grocery store instead of relying on individual home deliveries.

About acasa

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1. Know what you can be charged

First up, since 2019, most letting fees have been banned. Your holding deposit is also capped at 1 week’s rent, and the security deposit at 5 week’s rent, in most cases. Your agent or landlord can only charge you over and above that in three situations: if you pay your rent late, if you lose your keys, and if you want to change the terms of your tenancy. This means, no extra costs for check-in, inventory, cleaning, or admin – something to remember throughout your time in the property.

2. Access a council tax discount

If you’re 18 or over and renting your home, you’ll normally have to pay council tax. Your bill will primarily be based on two adults sharing a home – so if you don’t fit this criteria, you may be eligible for a discount.

If you’re an adult living on your own or with under-18 year olds, you could get 25% off the rate. If you’re under 18, you’ll be eligible for a 50% discount and, if you’re a full-time student, you won’t have to pay a thing. You’ll simply need to share details of your living situation with the council if you feel you’re being charged the wrong amount.

3. Find free furniture

If you’re looking for ways to kit out your part-furnished or unfurnished rented home, you don’t have to pay the earth. You can keep an eye on community services such as Freecycle and Freegle which match people wanting to get rid of unwanted furnishings – and more – with people looking for those items.

4. Check if you need your own TV licence

If you watch or record live TV – even if it’s streamed – you should have a TV licence. You only need one per household. You should ask your landlord if they already have a licence which covers the property, before paying separately. However, if you don’t live with your landlord and you’re in a self-contained home – such as a separate flat – you’ll need your own licence.

5. Take meter readings

You should take regular meter readings to make sure that your energy bills are accurate. You should especially make sure that you take one as soon as you move in and when you move out too, so you don’t continue to pay for someone else’s energy.

6. Boost your credit score

Did you know that paying your rent on time can help you access finance, such as loans or mortgages, more easily in the future? Experian is one company that can help you boost your credit score. If you connect to their services through one of their partners, such as Credit Ladder, they’ll be able to see that you pay your rent on time and they’ll keep a log of that in your credit file.

7. Check out the financial support available

If you struggle to pay for your energy bills, there is financial support out there. Check out the government’s site for what you may be able to access this winter, including the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment, the Household Support Fund – which you’ll need to contact your local council to access – and you can contact your energy supplier, to check if they have any further support to offer.

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Referencing is the process that letting agents or landlords go through to make sure you’ll be a good tenant and a suitable fit for the home you want to rent, before you sign the contract. Many agencies use other companies to handle the referencing process.

There are several checks involved: to confirm your identity, and make sure you have enough funds to cover your tenancy, you have good credit, and your previous landlord thought you were a good tenant.

Collecting the relevant information can take anything from 24 hours to up to a week. You can help by being open and honest and providing as much detail as you can. Incorrect details could delay your move in date.

Documents and checks

Proof of identity

Your letting agent or landlord needs to confirm that you are who you say you are, so you’ll need to provide identification. In England, you’ll also have to show you have the right to rent. You can give this in the form of a passport, driver’s license, a UK birth certificate, or a permit card/visa. You can find the full list of valid forms of identification at gov.uk.

Proof of income and/or employment

Recent pay slips, bank statements, and/or proof from your employer of your current salary will determine if your funds can cover the rent for your new tenancy. Your salary would normally need to be 2.5 times your share of the rent for this to be accepted. You can let your employer know in advance that they may need to give this information to speed up the process.

If you are self employed, you will need to provide a tax return or reference from your accountant.

With certain online banking providers, you can also opt in to Open Banking, and grant permission for the relevant information on rental payments and income to be shared. You can learn more about open banking at openbanking.org.uk.

If there’s an issue at this stage, you may require a guarantor. They agree to pay the rent or any damages if you cannot and so will have to undergo a similar referencing process and credit check. These checks will require a higher salary to rent ratio, to demonstrate your guarantor’s ability to cover their own living costs, as well as any potential extras you may not be able to cover. You should keep in mind someone who could fulfil this role.

Previous landlord’s reference

Your last landlord may be asked to comment on your tenancy. You can let them know in advance that this information will be requested to get a speedy response. You may also be asked to provide a bank statement, showing your latest rent payment, and current tenancy agreement.

Credit checks

These checks require your permission to go ahead. Your agency or landlord will use a credit reference agency to do a ‘soft check’ of your credit history. This gives an overview using publicly available data, such as if you’re listed on the electoral roll, rather than the in-depth ‘hard check’ required for a full credit application, and so your credit score won’t be affected.

Once your letting agent or landlord is happy with all the information you’ve proved, they will send you the tenancy agreement to sign and you can start preparing to move in.

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Have a clear out

You don’t need to go full Marie Kondo to streamline your belongings, but through organisations like Freecycle, by donating to charity, or selling unwanted books, clothes and furniture online means you’ll travel lighter and spend less on removals.  

Investigate your deposit options 

This is the big one – your tenancy deposit, which can be up to five or six weeks’ rent, can be quite a sum to fork out at a time when the pressure on your wallet is already high. We recommend asking your agent whether they offer a deposit replacement service. This means you could reduce your upfront costs, so you can move without having to wait for an existing deposit to be returned to you first.

Shop around for quotes on removal companies or van hire

Before committing as prices can vary a lot, and read reviews carefully. Some companies may charge more for carrying furniture up more than two flights of stairs, and not all will insure your possessions in transit.

Pick your moving date carefully

Some removal companies increase their prices at weekends and during school holidays, so clever planning can mean a big saving.

Use secondhand moving boxes

Be kinder to the environment and keep some pennies for the new pad. You can buy them online and have them delivered to your door.

Consider switching your energy suppliers

You could get greener, better gas and electricity deals. With the majority of tenancies you’re entitled to choose your own suppliers, so start your research a week or two pre-move and you could be all set up in time for the big day. Then, provide move-day meter readings to your new and previous providers and you’re good to go.

Review your TV and broadband set-up

You could use this fresh start to your advantage to benefit from faster WiFi and more channels. Tell your current provider you’re thinking about moving on and see what they can offer you. Speaking to alternative providers in person will also help you compare deals and pick the right one for your needs.

Arrange contents insurance

Make sure your belongings are covered by insurance if they get damaged, stolen or lost. Once you’ve calculated roughly how much your things are worth, highlighting any high value items, it’s easy to compare providers. Separately, liability insurance will also protect you for any accidental damage to your rental property: something worth considering too.

Think about house management

Time is money, so is there anything you can do differently to make home life easier? Meal delivery services, apps for booking cleaners or investing in technology to control heating remotely can all save you precious minutes, leaving you free to spend your time on everything else.

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Before the move 

• Consider utility switching. When starting a new tenancy, you can choose your gas and electricity providers, so why not take this opportunity to look for greener, more competitive deals? Start your research 7-10 days before the move, and you can be all set up the moment you put the key in your new door. The existing providers to your new property as well as your newly chosen ones will need move-day meter readings from you, after which you can sit back and await confirmation through the post.
• Redirect your mail. It only takes a few minutes to redirect your post through the Royal Mail website when moving house, but it can take up to five working days for the change to take effect, so get organised.
• If you drive, you may need to arrange temporary parking permits at your new address to tide you over until you have a full resident’s permit.
• Arrange contents insurance to cover your belongings if they get damaged, stolen or lost. You never know what’s around the corner. You’ll need to work out how much your things are roughly worth, highlighting any high value items. Separately, liability insurance will also protect you for any damage you (or your friends) make to the property: something worth considering.
• Shop around for good value TV and broadband packages. In these fast-moving times, deals are bound to be better than they were last time you moved, so make the most of this fresh start to find out if you could get faster WiFi and a wider choice of channels than you did in your previous pad.
• Research and book your removal company or van hire (plus extra muscle if needed) as soon as you know the date you’re moving house. If you’re using a removal company, make sure your belongings are insured in transit.

On moving day

• First thing, pack an overnight bag and put it aside so you have your toothbrush and phone charger to hand when you need them later.
• Note down your gas, electricity and water meter readings from your old and new properties and let your suppliers know the numbers. That way, you won’t pay a penny more. than you need to when utility switching.
• You’ll need to switch your address for council tax on your local government website.
• Head out to meet your neighbours: the friendliest way to find out when bin day is.

Just after the move 

• Avoid a hefty fine from the DVLA by changing the address on your driver’s licence online 
• You’ll need to inform your bank, doctor’s surgery, HR department at work, credit card companies, and any memberships you may have of your new address.
• Find your local recycling centre and tip (unless you rather like that pile of moving boxes blocking your TV).
• Investigate offers for cleaning services or meal-kit deliveries. You can save money and hassle in just a few clicks with these time-saving offers.
• Put your feet up, plan your housewarming and enjoy your new home.

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