Mayo guides·Moving·5 min read

Moving in and moving out

The first week sets the tone and the last week decides the deposit. Both go better with a list.

If you only read this

  1. 1Photograph every room on day one and on the last day, same angles.
  2. 2Settle every shared bill to zero before keys go back.
  3. 3Agree how the deposit is split before it lands.

Moving in

  1. Photograph every room, including marks and scuffs, and send the photos to the landlord and the house.
  2. Put all names on the lease, or agree in writing who is subletting from whom.
  3. Decide who holds each utility account and set them up in that person's name.
  4. Fill in the house agreement together.
  5. Share the Wi-Fi password, address, landlord contact and bin days in one place.

When someone leaves mid-lease

Agree the notice period up front, usually a month. The leaver keeps paying rent until a replacement moves in or the notice ends, whichever is first. The house gets a say on who replaces them.

Moving out

  1. Take the same photos again, same angles, and send them.
  2. Settle every shared bill to zero. Final electric and gas readings go in the house chat.
  3. Transfer or close each utility account on the last day, not before.
  4. Return keys with a written note of the date.
  5. Agree how the deposit is split before it lands, so nobody is chasing a share three weeks later.

The deposit

Deductions come out of the whole deposit before it's split, unless the damage is clearly one person's. Decide that in the house agreement, when nobody has broken anything yet.