Moving into a rented room: your first-week checklist

The first week sets up the rest of the tenancy. A few small records and checks now make repairs, bills and your deposit easier to deal with later. This guide is for England.

Day one: record the room

Take dated photos of the room, the furniture, the shared kitchen and bathroom, and anything already marked, chipped or stained.
Check any inventory you are given against what is actually there, and send corrections in writing while you remember.
Test what you will use daily: your lock, heating, hot water, sockets, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms where provided, and the window latches.
Keep your paperwork together: the agreement, deposit protection details, and any safety certificates you were shown. See deposit rules.

Know what the rent covers

Ask for a written list of which bills are included and whether there are any limits. If gas, electricity, water, council tax and internet are all included you will not need to set up accounts, but you should still know who to contact when something fails. See what "bills included" means and council tax in a shared house.

Cover your own things

A landlord's insurance usually protects the building and the landlord's own contents, not your belongings. Contents insurance for a rented room is often inexpensive; compare what is covered, particularly for items you carry out of the house, such as a laptop or bike.

If you will watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, check TV Licensing's rules. Housemates with separate agreements may each need their own licence.

Learn the house

Agree how and when bins go out, cleaning of shared areas, guests, noise and quiet hours. Get anything important in writing. See tenancy agreements.
Find out how to report a repair and who answers. See repairs in a rented room.
Know that the landlord needs to give notice before visiting, except in an emergency. See landlord entry.

Change your address

Update your bank, employer, GP practice, driving licence and any benefits or tax accounts, and arrange mail forwarding if you need it. Register to vote at your new address through GOV.UK.

New area? See registering with a GP.

This is general information for England, not legal advice. Viewing first? Use the room viewing checklist, or read how renting with us works.

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Common questions

Should I photograph my room when I move in?

Yes. Dated photos of the room, shared areas and any existing damage give you a record to compare against when you leave, which helps if there is a disagreement about the deposit.

Does the landlord's insurance cover my belongings?

Usually not. A landlord's policy typically covers the building and the landlord's own contents. Ask what it covers, and consider contents insurance for your own things.

Do I need a TV licence in a shared house?

TV Licensing's guidance is that a licence is needed to watch or record live TV or use BBC iPlayer, and that people with separate agreements for their rooms may each need their own. Check TV Licensing's current rules for your situation.