Moving and settling into your new rental home

The sooner you start packing your possessions, the less rushed and stressful this process will be. Start with the non-essentials a fortnight or so before moving day. Make sure you pack items together that will belong in the same rooms in your new home. This will make unpacking much easier.

Ensure all your boxes are accurately labelled to avoid confusion when you arrive at your new home.

Or, remove the stress altogether and hire a specialist removal service. 

You'll need particular items the first day/night you're in your home, so it pays to make a box or two containing these essentials. You could include everything from cleaning products, bin bags and bedding to a kettle, mugs, tea and coffee.

When you're packing, try to be ruthless with your possessions. If there are things you don't need or use anymore, give them to charity or throw them away if they're in poor condition. This will lighten the load when you move and mean you don't clutter your new place with unnecessary items.

Moving to a new home can be incredibly exciting, but moving your stuff from A to B can be a pain.

If you're moving into a furnished property, a car and a couple of friends might be all you need to help you shift your stuff. If you're taking heavy or large items, you might need to hire a van or book a removal company. Even if you're only moving a relatively short distance or don't have too many things, your removal options are still worth considering, especially if you need to use public transport or rely on a friend or family to help. AnyVan cover the whole of the UK and can offer instant quotes from a sofa to a full house move. With no hidden fees and handy functions like the ability to track your driver, using professional removals can help take the stress out of moving.

You must update the right things and notify the relevant people when you change your address. Make sure to inform your doctors and your bank, and change the address on your license. You should notify your insurance provider if you have renter's insurance.

You can also use the Royal Mail's Postal Redirection service. This takes up to 10 days to come into effect.

Not all broadband providers are available in all areas. It's best to check what you can receive at your new property and make sure you arrange well in advance with your current provider if you're planning to switch to your new home. If you need a new TV or broadband package, we have some great offers exclusively for tenants.

There's a limit to what you can do to revamp a rental property. For example, your landlord might not want you to redecorate. However, there are simple steps you can take to give your new pad a more personal feel.

If you're unsure whether you're permitted to make certain changes to your home, check the terms of your tenancy agreement. You can also contact your landlord and ask them directly.

Putting an array of your favourite photos on display is a great way to give your rental home a more welcoming vibe. Before you attach any to the walls, check that this is OK under the terms of your tenancy agreement. If it's not, position frames on various surfaces instead.

Soft furnishings, such as curtains, rugs, throws and cushions, can completely transform the look and feel of your rooms.

Adding plants and greenery is guaranteed to breathe new life into a rental property – they can add colour, smell nice and improve the air quality. 

There's no rule saying you have to take out insurance when you move into a rental home, but if you want to protect your finances and possessions in the event of anything from a burglary to a fire or flood, it's well worth considering tenants' content insurance. Note that your landlord's insurance policy won't offer cover for any damage or loss when it comes to your belongings.

You may also want to consider Tenancy Liability Insurance. At HomeLet, we offer Contents Insurance that incorporates this cover. If you accidentally damage your landlord's furniture, fixtures or fittings and you're liable to cover the cost of repairs or replacements under the terms of your tenancy agreement, Tenancy Liability Insurance protects you.