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Moving Guide

RENT AND DEPOSITS

Please remember to cancel your standing order when your final rent amount has come out. 

£10 administration fee is charged to return any overpaid rent.

If you are in rent arrears – do not rely on your deposit to pay arrears off. You may be liable for late fees in accordance with your lease, therefor the sooner you pay the better.

If rent is required to be deducted from your deposit and there are dilapidations that account for more than your deposit covers, an application will be made to the first-tier tribunal for a payment order which could result in an arrest of your bank account or wages. This service is free to landlords and is therefore regularly utilised.  

UTILITIES

Remember to inform council tax and utilities that you have moved and provide them with your forwarding address. If you have a prepayment meter, ensure that there is credit on the meters and that the top up keys or cards are left in the property and well as gas meter door keys. If you had you meter changed from a billing meter to a prepay meter you will be required to arrange for it to be returned back. Also remember to re-direct your mail.

BULBS AND BATTERIES 

Ensure that there are working bulbs throughout the property and that batteries are working within alarms and thermostats etc. Bear in mind that it is cheaper and easier for you to replace these before you leave, than it would be for us to hire a contractor to do it after you leave. 

DECORATION

If you haven’t been given permission in writing to make changes to the property it is reallyimportant that you put it back to its original condition. If you have been provided with a mandate regarding decoration, please refer to the terms of this. 

Safe Deposit Scotland will allow elements of wear and tear depending on how long you have lived there and how many people live with you. But for the avoidance of doubt, please ensure you leave the walls in a good condition. If you have hung items on the wall with brackets, nails, screws, glue etc. please ensure any damage is filled and decoration is re-instated. This includes tv bracket, shelves, and baby gates etc.

Blu tac leaves behind oily residue which is difficult to paint over. You will need to address this before leaving.

Nicotine and tar seep into the walls and leave a stain that will bleed into the coats of paint. You need to clean and prime the walls before you paint them, otherwise, the stains will persist. As smoking is not permitted in the property you will need to fully decorate throughout. (this must be complete by a professional)

Do not try to patch over paint work. Patchy walls as just as bad as marked walls. 

TENANT BELONGINGS AND RUBBISH 

Please ensure that you remove ALL of your personal belongings. Please do not leave anything behind, even if you think it might benefit the next resident. Any items left behind would have to be disposed of as we cannot fulfil health and safety regulations of items that have not been approved or tested. You will be liable for payment of the removal of any unwanted items.

Please also ensure that waste bins are emptied. If your bin collection is due after your move please ensure that all bins contain the correct type of waste, that all lids close fully and that the bin is out collection.

Ensure that skip hire or any special uplifts are complete before your termination. You will be liable for payment of the removal of uplifts even if they have been arranged to be collected later. 

LANLDORD FURNISHINGS

If any furnishings or other items were provided by the landlord, please ensure that you put them back in the exact same place that you found them. You should use your inventory to be reminded of where any items were located at the start of your tenancy. Again, you could incur labour charges if items need to be moved around.

APPLIANCES 

Please ensure that any fridges/freezers are turned off, fully defrosted and the doors left open. This will stop mould/bacteria from forming. Please also remember to turn off any heating and hot water timers and unplug anything else that may be a hazard.

SECURITY 

Remember to close and lock all windows and doors before leaving. Do not post your keys through the properties letter box as they may not be able to be retrieved and you may be charged for a lock change. Confirm any changes to alarm codes. 

CARPETS

Please ensure that your carpets are professionally shampooed before you leave. Especially If you have any pets. This will be worded within your lease agreement and ensures no allergy related issues occur for the next occupant. This must be done by a reputable and insured contractor. We would recommend using Aqua Clean who can be contacted on 07808 002801. Self-cleaning and rug doctors etc. will not be sufficient and for a return of deposit a receipt from a professional confirming the type of clean that was conducted will be required.

GARDENS/EXTERNAL AREAS

Please ensure you complete all gardening before you leave. This may include weeding, grass cutting etc. refer to your inventory to return in its original state. If you are concerned about snowy weather, try to document the garden before the snow fell.

CONDENSATION MOULD

Tenants often mistake condensation mould with rising dampness and mould caused by water ingress.  It is important to understand which is which. If you have mould on your walls and no building issues are present in the property, you will be responsible for removing mould from the property. 

SILICONE AND GROUTING

Your landlord will only be responsible for re-silicone or grouting where they have failed. (missing or peeling off) If your silicone or grouting is discoloured – this is a cleaning matter for tenants. 

CLEANING CHECK LIST

Please ensure that the property has been cleaned to a professional level before you move out. It is very easy to forget about specific areas of cleaning. It would be recommended that you use a reputable and insured cleaner for this. We would recommend Fiona Ferguson (07557020900)

 If you chose to do this yourself, you may find the following check list handy.

LIVING AREAS AND BEDROOMS

  • Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
  • Dust all surfaces
  • Wipe accumulated dust and dirt from top of doors
  • Wipe and polish mirrors, pictures and other wall hangings
  • Dust off all light fittings and lampshades
  • Wipe and polish switches
  • Carefully clean power sockets and extensions
  • Thoroughly Vacuum mattresses and sofas
  • Wipe accumulated dust from top of picture frames
  • Wipe dirt off curtain rails
  • Properly vacuum and dust both sides of curtains and blinds
  • Wipe off dust from skirting boards and decorations
  • Clean and polish metal ornaments
  • Remove/repaint dirty marks from walls
  • Mop hard floors and laminate
  • Upholstery clean sofas and dining chairs

BATHROOMS

  • Clean basins, taps and fittings
  • Remove hard water stains
  • Scrub and rinse soap dispensers
  • Scrub and rinse toilet and bidet
  • Scrub and rinse bath marks and signs of mildew
  • Wipe marks and stains from shower screens
  • Descale, rinse and wipe showerheads, taps and metal surfaces
  • Make sure to clean drains
  • Remove lime scale if present
  • Wipe and polish radiators and towel rails
  • Make sure to clean drains
  • Clean plumbing behind toilet 
  • Wipe and polish mirrors and glass surfaces
  • Clean extractor fans
  • Scrub and rinse accumulated dirt from the toothbrush area
  • Clean and whiten tiles and sealants

KITCHEN

  • Wash and polish all worktops, countertops and the sink area
  • Throw leftover food and carrier bags away
  • Remove accumulated lime scale
  • Remove mould growth between grout
  • Clean grime from extractors and hobs
  • Clean microwaves inside and out
  • Clean the washing machine inside and out
  • Clean exterior of all appliances
  • Clean inside cupboards, drawers and shelving
  • Wash and polish sinks and shine taps
  • De-grease and polish wall tiles
  • Clean and de-grease ovens internally and externally
  • Scrub gas rings and gas control knobs
  • Clean out the fridge/freezer
  • Clean the dishwasher inside and out
  • Sanitize the bins and remove rubbish
  • Stack and arrange cutlery, utensils and other dining accessories
  • Clean outside of cupboards and drawers
  • Clean inside of windows and wipe down sills, ledges and frames
  • Wipe down radiators if applicable and accessible
  • Vacuum, mop and polish floors
  • Remove dust from plugs and light switches
  • Wipe dirt from woodwork (doors, handles, doorframes, furnishings and skirting boards)
  • Whiten tiles grout and sealants

FURNISHINGS

  • Wipe and polish tables, countertops and other worktop surfaces
  • Look out for oil stains
  • Make sure you remove all fingerprints and marks
  • Vacuum the sofa with and without its cushions on
  • Move all furnishings to vacuum underneath
  • Wipe and polish all wooden units
  • Please place all furnishings
  • Put items in their original place

WINDOWS

  • Remove any marks, fingerprints and oily stains
  • Dust off and clean windowsills
  • Dust off blinds, curtains and shades
  • Wipe down to prevent streaks when drying
  • Wipe down frames
  • Whiten moulded seals

DRAWERS, CUPBOARDS & SHELVES

  • Clear drawers inside and out
  • Remove any unnecessary items and leftover goods
  • Wipe down the inside and out
  • Wipe around handles

FRIDGE/FREEZER

  • Remove dirt, mildew and leftover food
  • Fully defrost
  • Wipe and polish handles
  • Clean rubber seals
  • Move it and clean underneath & behind
  • Dismantle, wash and rinse slots, grills and shelves
  • Wipe and polish exterior

WASHING MACHINES

  • Clean the drum from leftovers and stains
  • Inspect and clean filters
  • Clean rubber seals
  • Move and clean behind and underneath 
  • Wipe the soap dispenser 
  • Inspect and clean filter

OVENS

  • Clean and degrease the oven, extractor fan, hob and grill
  • Scrub off food deposits and grime
  • Clean grill pan and oven racks
  • Clean inner of both oven and microwave
  • Inspect and wipe the rubber seals
  • Inspect and wipe buttons
  • Clean exterior and remove stains and marks
  • Seek advice of scratches and rust