Moving in

Catalyst Communities Housing Association

Moving in to your new home

When you move home there will always be new things you need to know and do. This page, along with the leaflet below, gives you useful information about what you must do when you move in to your new home.

Keys

You should have been given at least two sets of keys when you moved in. If not, please contact us immediately. We do not keep a spare set of keys.

Who should I tell that I have moved in?

When you move in, you should tell:

the Council Tax department
the Benefits Agency and Jobcentre, if you receive or wish to claim benefits
the Housing Benefit department at your local council, if you have a current claim
the council to ensure members of your family are on the voters list.

What do I need to know about my gas, water and electricity?

Gas and electricity

When you move into your home, check you have a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate and the Electrical Installation Certificate. Please contact your local office immediately if you haven’t received a copy

Water

In most cases, you will pay your water bills, and possibly sewerage charges, directly to the water company. On a few new housing schemes, we collect water fees through the service charges. Your neighbourhood manager will tell you if this is the case. If you have a water meter, you must give a reading when you call the water company.

Telephone/broadband

You are responsible for arranging and paying for any telephone or broadband connections.

What other important things do I need to know when I move in?

Insurance

We insure the structure of your home but not the contents. We strongly recommend that you have home contents insurance. This insures your belongings against loss, theft, and damage by fire or water.

Dustbins and recycling

The local council will arrange for waste to be collected from your property. Please contact the council if you have any queries.

Pests

You can report pests to your local office.

Decorations

You are responsible for decorating the inside of your home. If your home needs decorating when you move in, we will give you an allowance.

Repairs

We inspect our properties before we let them and do any necessary repairs to bring them up to standard.

New tenant visit

After six weeks, your neighbourhood manager will arrange to visit you. They will check how you have settled in and help sort out any problems.

Rent

Your rent is due in advance every Monday. If you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with your rent by claiming Housing Benefit.

Is there anything else I should know about living in my home?

TV aerials and satellite dishes

You must get our permission before you put up a satellite dish. If we give you permission, you will be responsible for supervising and paying for the work.

Living in a flat or maisonette

Please do not make excessive noise and disturb your neighbours.

You must also keep passageways and stairwells clean and not use these areas for storage.

Inspecting the estate and checking properties

We regularly check estates and buildings where we provide services. We inspect the estate with you every three months to ensure we are dealing with your priorities.

Estate services

Your neighbourhood manager will explain what services we provide where you live. If you are unhappy with any of our services, please contact your local office.

Neighbours

Please take the time to introduce yourselves to the new neighbours. Good neighbourhoods start with you and your neighbours.