Your First Weeks in a New Home

Q: What do I do if I find a defect after moving in?

New build: Raise it with the developer as part of snagging. Major defects are covered by the warranty. Older property: Generally, it's your responsibility. Very rarely, if the seller deliberately hid a major defect, you might have legal recourse — but this is hard to prove. Most defects discovered post-completion are the new owner's problem.

You've got the keys and moved in. The legal process is done, the mortgage is in place, and you own the property. But there's still a lot to sort in the first few days, weeks, and months — utilities, council tax, insurance, addresses, plus some financial protection decisions that matter for the long term.

This is a practical checklist for the transition from "just moved in" to "properly settled." Work through it in order — the first-day items are time-sensitive, everything else can be done over the following weeks.

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Day 1: The Day You Move In

Take meter readings

Before you do anything else, photograph your electricity, gas, and water meters. Note the date and time. You'll submit these to the utility providers as your starting readings — this prevents any disputes about what you owe vs the previous owner.

Where to find the meters:

Electricity: Usually in a hallway, under stairs, in a garage, or in an outside box
Gas: Often in a cupboard, sometimes in a meter box outside
Water: Under the kitchen sink, in a basement, or in an outside box near the boundary

If you can't find them, ask the estate agent or the previous owner (via the agent). Some flats and modern homes have meters in a central plant room.

Photograph the serial number too — it confirms which specific meter you're reading, which matters if you later change providers.

Check the property matches the contract

Walk through with your contract fittings and contents list (the TA10 form your solicitor sent you). Confirm:

Appliances listed as staying are actually there
Light fittings, curtains, and other items listed as included are in place
Nothing has been removed that was supposed to stay
Nothing has been left that was supposed to be removed

Flag discrepancies immediately. Contact your solicitor the same day if anything doesn't match — the longer you wait, the harder it is to resolve.

Test essential services

Turn on taps to check water supply is working
Check the boiler fires up and heating comes on
Test electric sockets in each room
Check all external doors lock properly
Locate the stopcock (main water shut-off)
Locate the consumer unit / fuse box
Locate the gas shut-off valve
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

Other day-one priorities

Change the locks if you want to (you have no idea who has copies of the existing keys)
Check the loft, garage, and outbuildings — make sure they're empty (or contain only what was agreed)
Keep all the paperwork from the sale together — warranties, manuals, completion paperwork, all in one folder

First Week: Essential Admin

Utilities

Contact gas, electricity, and water providers. Find out who supplies the property (ask the previous owner via the estate agent, or check the bills from the seller's paperwork). You don't need to stay with them — you're free to switch straight away if you find a better deal.

What you need to do:

Provide your move-in date
Submit your opening meter readings
Give your name and bank details to set up the account
If you want to switch providers, do it from the start — you won't be penalised by the existing supplier

Consider switching energy providers. You're under no obligation to stay with whoever the previous owner used. Comparison sites like MoneySupermarket, Uswitch, or Compare the Market let you compare current deals. Switching usually saves £100-£300 per year at typical usage.

Broadband and TV. Contact providers to arrange a new contract or transfer an existing one. Installation can take 2-3 weeks for new lines, so do this early. Check what technology is available at the property — full fibre, FTTC, or copper can all affect your options.

Council Tax

Contact the local council (gov.uk/contact-council) to set up your account. They'll ask for:

Your completion date
Names of everyone living at the property
Details of any single-person discount or disability reduction you're entitled to

Check the council tax band. It's set nationally and shown on the listing, but check if it looks high — you can challenge the band with the Valuation Office Agency if you think it's wrong. Successful challenges can save hundreds per year.

Insurance

Buildings insurance should already be active from exchange (required by your mortgage lender). Confirm the policy is still correct for your new address — some insurers require specific post-completion confirmation.

Contents insurance is separate and covers your belongings. If you don't have it, get it. A standard contents policy costs £100-£200 per year and covers theft, fire, flood, and accidental damage.

Combined buildings and contents policies from a single insurer are usually cheaper than buying separately.

Register with a GP and dentist

If you've moved out of your existing GP's catchment area, register with a local practice. The NHS website (nhs.uk) shows GPs accepting new patients in your area. Bring photo ID and proof of address.

Update the electoral roll

Register to vote at your new address (gov.uk/register-to-vote). This only takes a few minutes online. It's legally required and also important for your credit file — lenders check the electoral roll to verify your address.

Change of address checklist

Update your address with:

Immediately important:

Employer (so tax and payslips are correct)
Bank and building society accounts
Credit card providers
HMRC (gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details)
DVLA — driving licence and vehicle registration (there are fines for not updating vehicle registration)
Car insurance provider

Within first month:

Pension providers
Investment accounts and ISAs
Student Loans Company (if applicable)
Any online retailers you use regularly (Amazon, eBay)
Subscription services with physical delivery (Netflix DVDs, meal kits)
Gym and club memberships
Solicitor, dentist, GP, optician

Other useful updates:

Driving licence photo renewal if due
Passport when next due for renewal
Any standing orders to government bodies (TV Licence, council services)

A single evening spent on this saves months of misdirected post and missed communications.

First Month: Settling In

Get to know the property

Find the essentials:

Main stopcock (water shut-off) — essential to know in case of leaks
Gas shut-off valve — usually near the meter
Electrical consumer unit and how to reset tripped switches
Smoke alarms and how to test them
Carbon monoxide detectors
Radiator bleed valves (in case of air in the system)
Thermostat and heating controls

Check maintenance items:

Boiler servicing due date (annual service recommended)
Gas safety certificate (if one exists from before your purchase)
Electrical safety certificate
Drain covers — accessible?
Guttering clear?

Collect manuals and warranties. The previous owner should have left instruction manuals for appliances, boiler, and anything else. If they're missing, most can be downloaded from manufacturer websites.

Start a local contacts list

You'll need these eventually — better to research when you're not in a crisis:

Local plumber (for leaks, heating issues)
Local electrician
Local gas safety engineer (annual boiler service)
Local locksmith (for lockouts)
Local decorator (eventually)
Local handyman (small jobs)

Ask neighbours for recommendations — local tradespeople who rely on repeat business in the area are usually more reliable than random internet picks.

Buildings insurance review

Your buildings insurance was usually set up quickly during the purchase process. Now's a good time to review it properly:

Is the rebuild cost accurate? (Your lender's valuation might have used a rough estimate)
Are all outbuildings (shed, garage, conservatory) covered?
Is accidental damage included?
What's the excess?
Are you comfortable with the provider?

You can switch buildings insurance at any time — you're not locked in for the year. Just make sure cover is continuous with no gaps.

Consider life insurance and mortgage protection

This isn't mandatory but it's worth thinking about. If you have a mortgage and die or become seriously ill, your family would need to cover the payments — or lose the house.

Life insurance (Term Life / Level Term). Pays out a lump sum if you die within the term. Cheapest option. A 30-year-old buying £250,000 of cover for 25 years might pay £10-£20 per month.

Decreasing term assurance. The payout reduces over time to match a reducing repayment mortgage balance. Cheaper than level term. Well-matched to repayment mortgages.

Critical illness cover. Pays out a lump sum if you're diagnosed with one of a list of serious illnesses (cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc.). More expensive than pure life insurance but covers scenarios where you survive but can't work.

Income protection. Replaces a percentage of your income if you can't work due to illness or injury. Different from critical illness — it pays monthly rather than a lump sum, and covers more conditions.

Mortgage payment protection (MPPI). Covers mortgage payments specifically if you can't work due to accident, sickness, or unemployment. Separate from life and critical illness.

What most buyers should consider:

Some level of life insurance to clear the mortgage if either of you dies
Critical illness cover if you can afford it
Income protection if you're self-employed or in a high-risk job

A qualified mortgage advisor or independent financial advisor can help you work out what level of cover makes sense for your situation. Protection products are regulated differently from mortgages — make sure the advisor is qualified in protection.

Write a will (or update yours)

If you bought with a partner, now is when you should sort wills. Jointly-owned property passes differently depending on how you hold it (joint tenants vs tenants in common), and without a will, the intestacy rules decide who gets what — often not what you'd have wanted.

A simple will from a solicitor costs £150-£300. Online wills (like Farewill, Beyond) cost £100-£150. Mirror wills (both partners with aligned provisions) are usually cheaper when done together.

New Build Specific: Snagging

If you bought a new build, you have additional considerations in the first few months.

What is snagging?

Snagging is the process of identifying and reporting defects in a new build. Things like:

Doors that don't close properly
Skirting boards with gaps
Paint chips and marks
Grout issues in bathrooms
Sticking windows
Ill-fitting kitchen cabinet doors
Plaster cracks (minor cracks are normal as new builds settle)
External defects — gutters, drainage, driveway

Major defects (structural, damp issues, faulty systems) are covered by the developer's warranty for the first 2 years.

How to snag

Option 1 — DIY. Walk through the property methodically with a checklist, photographing everything. Check every room, every fitting, every door and window. There are free snagging checklists online.

Option 2 — Professional snag survey. A qualified snagger costs £300-£600 and does a thorough inspection. They identify issues you'd miss and provide a formal report the developer can't easily dismiss.

When to do it

Within the first 2-3 weeks. You can snag anytime in the first 2 years, but earlier is better — developers are more responsive immediately after completion.

The snagging process

Compile your list of defects
Submit formally to the developer (email, often via a portal)
Developer schedules visits to fix items
Some items get fixed immediately, others are scheduled for a consolidated visit
Follow up on anything incomplete

If the developer doesn't respond: Escalate within the company (site manager, regional manager). If still unresolved, contact the warranty provider (NHBC, Premier Guarantee, LABC). Ultimately, you can raise a formal dispute.

First Three Months: Financial Review

Build up an emergency fund

Your deposit has just left your account. Rebuild a buffer as quickly as possible.

Target amount: 3-6 months of essential outgoings (mortgage, bills, food, transport). For most UK buyers, this is £5,000-£15,000.

Where to keep it: Easy-access savings account that pays interest. Not tied up in investments. Not in your current account.

Why it matters: Boilers break, cars need repairs, redundancies happen. A home owner without an emergency fund is one major bill away from debt.

Review your budget

Moving day estimates rarely match reality. After a few months you'll have a clearer picture of your actual monthly costs.

New costs to factor in:

Mortgage payment
Buildings and contents insurance
Council tax (possibly higher than your previous property)
Utilities (new property may be more or less efficient)
Service charges (if leasehold)
Ground rent (if leasehold)

Compare against what you were paying when renting or in your previous property. If you're stretched, identify where to trim. If you've got surplus, think about what to do with it — overpayments, savings, investments.

Consider overpayments on your mortgage

Most mortgages allow you to overpay by 10% of the remaining balance each year without penalty. Even small overpayments have a big effect over time.

Example: On a £200,000 mortgage at 4.5% over 25 years, overpaying £100 per month:

Saves approximately £22,000 in interest over the term
Reduces the term by approximately 3 years

Check your mortgage terms for:

Overpayment allowance (usually 10% per year)
Early repayment charges for overpaying beyond the allowance
Whether overpayments reduce the term or the monthly payment

If your budget allows, even £50 per month in overpayments makes a meaningful difference.

Plan for your next remortgage

Your current mortgage is probably on a 2, 3, or 5-year fixed rate. When that ends, you'll move onto the lender's standard variable rate (much higher) unless you remortgage.

When to start thinking about it: 3-6 months before your fix ends.

What to do:

Check your current mortgage end date (on your original offer or monthly statement)
Put a reminder in your calendar 4 months before
At that point, run a new affordability check to see what lenders would offer
Speak to a broker about market rates

Our affordability tool works for remortgages as well as purchases — at remortgage time, you can re-run your check to see current options across 60+ lenders.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly should I switch utilities after moving in?

You're not locked in with the existing provider, but switching usually takes 2-3 weeks. Notify the existing supplier immediately with your move-in date and opening meter readings, then compare and switch when ready.

When do I pay my first mortgage payment?

Usually the 1st of the month after completion. If you completed on 15th March, your first payment is typically 1st April. Your lender will confirm the exact date. First payments are sometimes larger than normal because they cover a partial period plus the standard monthly amount.

Do I need to change the locks when I move in?

Legally no, but it's a sensible security step. You don't know how many copies of the old keys exist or who has them. Locksmiths charge £80-£200 for a full lock change, more for multiple doors.

When should I get life insurance?

Ideally before or shortly after completion. Life insurance is cheapest when you're young and healthy, and the sooner you have cover, the sooner your family is protected. If you have dependents, this is a priority within the first 3 months.

Do I need contents insurance?

Not legally, but without it, theft, fire, or flood damage to your belongings isn't covered. Buildings insurance only covers the structure of the property. A basic contents policy costs £100-£200 per year.

When can I overpay my mortgage?

Most fixed-rate mortgages allow 10% overpayment per year without penalty. You can usually start immediately after your first payment. Check your mortgage terms or ask your lender.

How soon after buying can I remortgage?

In theory, immediately — but you'd likely pay early repayment charges (typically 1-5% of the balance) if you remortgage during a fixed-rate period. Most people wait until their fixed term ends, which is usually 2-5 years.

What do I do if I find a defect after moving in?

New build: Raise it with the developer as part of snagging. Major defects are covered by the warranty.

Older property: Generally, it's your responsibility. Very rarely, if the seller deliberately hid a major defect, you might have legal recourse — but this is hard to prove. Most defects discovered post-completion are the new owner's problem.

How long until I receive my title documents?

Your solicitor will send the official Land Registry title documents 2-12 weeks after completion, depending on how busy Land Registry is. Keep them safe — you'll need them when you eventually sell.

Should I leave the mail forwarding for the previous owner?

Royal Mail offers mail redirection (royal mail - redirection) for £33 per year at the time of writing, which forwards a previous resident's post to their new address. The previous owner should arrange this — you don't need to do anything. Any post for the previous owner that does arrive should be returned to sender or marked "not at this address."

When does my buildings insurance premium get paid?

Depends on your policy. Most buildings insurance is annual, paid either upfront as a lump sum or monthly by direct debit. Check your policy documents or ask the insurer.

Is there anything I need to do about stamp duty after completion?

No, your solicitor handles this. They pay the stamp duty to HMRC from the funds you provided within 14 days of completion. You don't need to do anything else.

When should I start thinking about my next mortgage deal?

3-6 months before your current fixed rate ends. This gives you time to compare options, get a broker involved, and submit a remortgage application in good time. Leaving it until the last minute means you end up on your lender's standard variable rate, which is usually much higher.

Come Back When Your Fix Ends

Most mortgages are on 2-5 year fixed rates. When yours ends, you'll need to remortgage or move onto your lender's standard variable rate.

Our affordability tool works for remortgages too. When your fix is coming to an end, run a new check to see what 60+ lenders would offer you — both your existing lender and everyone else in the market. A 15-minute check can save you thousands over the next fixed term.

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Author & Last Updated

Written by a CeMAP qualified mortgage advisor Last updated: April 2026

Last updated: April 2026