Guide to moving home
If you're thinking of moving home there's a lot to remember and put in place before and after you move. We've put together a checklist which we hope will help.
Letting us know you want to move
- If you're an existing Magna customer you'll need to give us notice that you intend to leave your home. Normally this is four weeks depending on your agreement with us, but it's important that you let us know. Contact us here.
- Once you've let us know you want to move, a member of our Lettings Team will be in touch to help you through the process.
- We'll need to arrange an inspection of your home and will agree a convenient time with you to do this. This will enable us to discuss with you anything you need to do before moving out. For example, if there's damage to the property, redecoration that might be required prior to leaving, or if your garden needs cutting back. Its important we do this and we will agree a plan with you about what needs to be done.
- Once we've agreed the work that needs to be done, it's important that you do it. If not, you're likely to incur charges, which of course we want to avoid.
- It's vital your home is left safe, so you'll need to disconnect any appliances such as washing machines, TV’s etc and you'll also need to ensure that your cooker is disconnected by a qualified electrician and / or gas-safe engineer.
- You'll need to tell your telephone / internet provider about your new home and see if you can transfer your current provider to your new address.
- Don’t forget your post! You can contact the post office to arrange mail redirection. This can be done online from the Royal Mail website or by collecting a form from your local post office.
- You'll need to let your local authority know you've moved, give them of your new address, and ask for a statement on your council tax. You may receive a refund, and they will tell you who your new local authority is.
Remember
to let your car and household insurance firms know you've moved. If you have
no contents insurance, we strongly advise that you arrange this to protect your
household items. To help you decide which home
contents insurance is right for you, we have teamed up with Thistle Tenant
Risks, and Ageas Insurance Limited who provide the My Home Contents Insurance
Scheme, a Tenants Contents Insurance policy designed for tenants living in
social housing. More information on the My Home Contents Insurance Scheme can be found on this link.
There are other organisations you'll need to notify if you've moved home, and we've put some useful links below:
You'll also need to notify any banks, building societies, mobile phone providers and credit / store cards companies and let them know that you've moved.
On the day you move, contact your water, gas and electric suppliers to inform them you are moving and give them the current meter readings. This is important as there may be a credit on your account. You can also see if you can transfer your current provider to your new address.
If this is your first home think about all of the essential items and furniture that you need.
What we need from you before you move home
- Your rent account must be clear or in credit and all charges that you are responsible for must be paid in full
- Your home must be completely clear, including all furniture, debris, food stuffs etc. This also includes white goods, but dependent on their condition we might ask you to remove carpets or floor coverings. This will be agreed with you when we inspect your home.
- It's important your home is thoroughly cleaned before you move out including all floors.
- You'll need to make sure your garden is cleared of rubbish and left tidy. The grass must be cut to a reasonable length, hedges cut back (and cuttings removed) and pathways clear. Garden furniture and children’s play equipment must also be removed.
- All window keys must be left in your home and all sets of front and back door keys / fobs must be returned. Our Home Moves Team will arrange this with you.
- All personal fixtures and fittings must be removed.
- Kitchen units must be intact. Worktops must be clean and damage free.
- All doors must be in place, damage free, fit correctly and have working handles.
- Please also remember to turn off the gas supply to your home at the meter to ensure your home is left safe and to avoid any further charges for appliances that are left in use.
- If you're moving out during winter, please leave the heating thermostat at 15 degrees to prevent the pipes from freezing.
Handy tips which may come in useful
In the weeks before you move you should think about:
- Whether to move yourself, use removers, or ask friends or family to help if you can.
- If you need to order any packing cases / collect boxes.
- Remember to book the days off work that you'll need to move and settle in.
- If friends and family are helping you move, give them a call and make sure they're still able to help out.
- If you've got any pets it might be best to arrange a safe place for them to go while you move.