Oh heck

Pollycat

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but if you haven't got a water meter, do check if it will be cheaper than paying 'rates'.

I arranged for a water meter to be fitted in my elderly parents' warden controlled council flat.
It is saving Mum a fortune compared to what other residents are paying based on the old rateable value.

Ames

Thanks.

Jojo - changing the locks comes under the heading of 'common sense', so I'd never have thought of it, so thank you for reminding me!

Pukkamum, that's great to know - I went and had another look around today and the meters are prepay ones. How long did it take to get them changed?

Great point, Pollycat. I've got a water meter here and it's saved a fortune - when I got it the rates were about £30 a month, I now pay £8. Although it'll go up in the new place once I can have baths and get a dishwasher.


As I said, I've been round for another snoop today. The kitchen's in now, so I can't count on that being a delay. So the timetable I have to work on is

View on Tuesday, put off a decision until I've spoken to my housing advisor. So, decide/sign/get keys etc end of next week.

The last flat I was offered they said I could have a week to move, although I know people who've only been given a couple of days. Hopefully I can get them to stick to a week.

Then I'll have to pay the rent to keep this place on another week. Services like BT and Sky want two weeks notice. And it'll give me more time to dehoard and sort money. Plus I'll have to get permission for things like a water meter so can't get that sorted before moving if I only have a week.

So by my reckoning that gives me a maximum of three weeks to get sorted and moved. Eeek!

Pollycat

Ames wrote: »

So by my reckoning that gives me a maximum of three weeks to get sorted and moved. Eeek!

Look at it this way:
You'll be in and settled in time for Christmas. :eek:

dancingfairy

Hi Ames, exciting stuff. Great news about the flat.
Don't worry about having everything sorted for the first day you are there. You can put sheets up at the windows for a few days (as already suggested), you can get furniture as you go along etc.
I would make up a going away bag for the first few days - if you can pack a kettle and some cup a soup/instant noodles that will get you going or easy things you can microwave (like microwave rice) which needn't be kept in a fridge.
In terms of telling people you've moved, you don't need to tell everyone straight away, you can get a redirection from the post office and I believe as part of that they will notify certain people for you. Start keeping a list of people/companies you get letters from - more will pop into your head as you go along.
I would make sure you take gas/electric/water readings on both the old property and the new property so you have them handy for your suppliers.
Try and find out who the current gas and electricity suppliers are so you can give them readings if possible but I'm sure there is a way you can find out if the council can't help (I'm sure someone on here will tell you who to phone/which websites to check).
If you can I'd take a fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detecter with you (if there aren't any there already). I don't think they are expensive and they will give you peace of mind.
Best of Luck
df

Ames

Wow, Pollycat, you're right! I still can't believe that I'll be somewhere with heating by the time it's needed.

DF, thanks for those pointers.

Do I still take readings for the new place even though it's pre pay meters?

I hope after all this I don't get in and find there's something totally unsuitable about it that I couldn't tell from peering through the windows!

I hope whoever's there can answer all these questions. When I viewed this place he was useless. I asked if there was gas central heating and he said yes. After moving in I found that there wasn't even a gas supply. To the entire estate. Although admittedly I should have noticed on viewing that there wasn't any radiators.

I've just filled in a few online quote requests for moving, and played with the credit union repayment calculator and at a pinch I could go up to a grand loan, I'd really rather not though.

thedogsmum

Check if there is a service charge, in addition to the rent - it's likely if there are common areas, e.g. landings, grounds, etc.,
I'm sure you'll be pressed into making a quick decision because the council won't want to have the flat with no rent being paid and if it's a popular place, there's sure to be people on the list behind you.
Good luck!

Ames

I get housing benefit, so that would cover the service charge. There aren't any common areas other than possibly the grass around the flat, I'm not sure what 'belongs' to the flat or not.

I know I'll be pressed - when I got this place I viewed in the morning and had to make a decision by that afternoon! I'm determined not to do anything until I've spoken to the advice service though. When the woman phoned to make the viewing appointment she asked if I wanted my support worker there, but they're too busy to be able to come out at a few days notice, and they were both off this week. So hopefully the housing people will have a little bit of patience.

ETA: Just done an insurance quote and that came in at half what I expected, which is good. Not just from a money point of view but it shows the area's not as bad as I thought.

BrassicWoman

you sound so excited! I hope this is a really positive move for you xx

Upsidedown_Bear

Ames wrote: »

I'll add measuring the windows. I've got nets for them so people won't be able to look in, but proper curtains in the bedroom would probably be good. I'd rather make do and wait until I can buy fairly decent ones than buy cheap just to have something, it wont be a long wait anyway.

It'd probably be sensible to get window poles straight away though, and add putting them up to the handyman list.

Do remember that if you have lights on people can see in even with nets up.

Good luck :)

jules-2005

I don't know if all councils or housing associations have the same policy but I have recently moved into a house. There are no carpets, they ripped everything out and replaced the kitchen and bathroom with lino but everything else is just plain floorboards.