Moving into an empty home

We will:

• Carry out electrical and gas safety checks and any repairs needed. You will be given the necessary compliance test certificates.
• Check for any structural defects or damp with remedial work where needed.
• Check the condition of any asbestos in the building to ensure it is labelled, in good condition and poses no hazard. It will be safe as long as you don’t disturb it.
• Test smoke and/or heat detectors and ensure they’re in working order.
• Test carbon monoxide detectors (where present) and ensure they’re in working order.
• Block up and ventilate any open fires.

We will: 

• Provide you with a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
• Provide loft insulation in all properties with a loft space.
• Provide low energy bulbs in light fittings.

We will:

• Inspect the kitchen to ensure it is in a sound and hygienic condition.
• Provide spaces for your cooker, refrigerator and washing machine (unless a communal laundry room is provided). We will also provide a connection point for your cooker.

We will:

• Make sure you have a working toilet, sink and bath or shower. If there is a wet-room style bathroom fitted, this will stay in place.
• Replace light pull chords in bathrooms.

We will:

• Make sure all doors and windows are working.
• Fit new locks on external doors and provide you with two keys for each external door and, if there is a door entry system, provide you with one fob.
• Provide you with keys to window locks and fit restrictors to windows on the first floor and above.

We will:

• Ensure that floors are level and safe.
• Ensure there is vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom – no carpets or flooring are provided in other rooms.

We will:

• Remove torn wallpaper and any polystyrene ceiling tiles and make surfaces good.
• Fill any cracks in walls that are more than 6mm wide.
• Mist coat brightly painted walls.
• Provide decoration packs if the decoration standard is particularly poor.

We will:

• Empty cupboards, roof space, sheds and outhouses.
• Clean and wash walls, floors, windows and doors where necessary.
• Clean all kitchen units inside and out.
• Clean and descale the toilet(s), bath or shower, and replace the toilet seat(s).

We will:

• Clear all rubbish, broken glass and other sharp objects.
• Remove dilapidated sheds and fill in ponds.
• Cut back grass, overgrown shrubs and remove cuttings.
• Repair unsafe paths and uneven ground to reduce trip hazards, and secure fencing. This may be done after you have moved in.

Some items, such as timber sheds or laminate flooring may be left in the property and gifted to you. This means the items become your responsibility for future upkeep and maintenance. You can refuse to accept gifted items and we will remove them. If you do accept them, you may be responsible for removing them at the end of your tenancy.