Completion day is the end of the buying process and the start of a different kind of admin. Most of it is unglamorous and some of it carries actual penalties if you leave it too long. This checklist covers everything that needs doing in the first month, roughly in the order it needs to happen. Still mid-move? AnyVan's man-and-van service covers smaller moves without the full removals price tag (affiliate link).
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Contents
Completion day
On the day you get the keys, do these before you unpack a single box.
- Take meter readings — gas, electricity, water. Photograph each meter with the date visible. Send the readings to the current suppliers immediately. This is the line between your bills and the previous owner's; without it, you are liable for everything since the last meter read.
- Change the locks. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the previous keys exist. A locksmith can rekey the existing locks (cheaper than replacing them) in under an hour. Do this on day one.
- Locate the stopcock, fuse box, and boiler. Know where these are before you need them at 11pm. The stopcock turns off the water supply in an emergency. The fuse box resets trip switches. Write the boiler manufacturer and model number somewhere accessible.
- Check buildings insurance is active. Your mortgage lender requires buildings insurance to be in place from completion. Confirm the policy is live and covers the correct rebuild value.
Week one
- Register with a new GP. If you have moved areas, register with a local GP surgery immediately — waiting lists in some areas are long and you need to be registered before you need an appointment.
- Update your address with DVLA. You are legally required to update your driving licence and vehicle logbook (V5C) within a set period of moving. Failure to update the V5C can result in a fine. Both can be done online at gov.uk.
- Notify your bank and update your address. Most banks can do this via their app. Do all financial accounts at the same time — pension providers, investment platforms, savings accounts.
- Register on the electoral roll. This directly affects your credit score. Register at gov.uk/register-to-vote using your new address. It takes five minutes and matters for any credit application in the next few years, including remortgaging.
- Set up mail redirection. Royal Mail's redirection service costs around £35 for three months. Worth doing even if you've updated everyone — there will always be someone you've forgotten.
- Contact the council. Notify your new local council you have moved in and set up a council tax account. If you are moving from a rented property, you may have been paying council tax there — notify that council too. Single occupancy discount (25% off) applies if you are the sole adult in the property.
First month
- Service the boiler. If the previous owners cannot confirm it was recently serviced, book one. An annual boiler service costs £80–£120 and is a condition of most boiler warranties. It also catches problems before they become emergencies in winter.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Test every alarm in the property and replace batteries in all of them regardless of status. Under UK regulations, landlords are required to fit these but owner-occupiers are not legally required to have them — though not having a smoke alarm on each floor would be inadvisable and may affect your buildings insurance.
- Flush infrequently used taps and showers. If any bathroom or external tap has not been used for some time, run it for a few minutes. This flushes out any Legionella bacteria that can accumulate in stagnant water.
- Check the EPC and note recommended improvements. The Energy Performance Certificate for the property lists cost-effective energy improvements in order of impact. Some — loft insulation, cavity wall insulation — may qualify for government scheme funding. Note which apply to your property now and revisit when budget allows.
- Set up direct debits for regular bills. Gas, electricity, water, broadband, council tax. Most suppliers offer a small discount for direct debit. Consolidating your switch of suppliers to your move-in date is the most efficient approach — switching mid-tenancy at a previous address complicates final bills.
- Photograph the property throughout. A full photographic record of the condition of every room at move-in is useful for insurance claims and for any future disputes about pre-existing damage. Store in cloud storage with the date embedded.
- Check your broadband options. If you need to arrange new broadband installation, lead times can be two to four weeks for some providers and areas. Order as soon as possible if you are working from home.
- Review contents insurance. Buildings insurance covers the structure; contents insurance covers everything inside it. If you have moved from a rented property where contents insurance was arranged for a smaller space, your existing policy may not adequately cover your new home's contents. Review the sum insured.
Ongoing — set up and forget
- Set a mortgage payment reminder. Your first mortgage payment is typically collected 1–2 months after completion; the exact date depends on your lender. Confirm the first direct debit date with your lender so you are not caught out.
- Annual boiler service. Book it for the same month each year — ideally late summer before heating season starts.
- Buildings insurance renewal. Diarise to review and compare annually rather than letting it auto-renew at inflated rates.
- Check your EPC date. EPCs last ten years. If yours is approaching expiry and you plan to sell or let, a new assessment will be needed.
The things with actual penalties if you ignore them
Most of the list above is best practice. These specific items carry financial or legal consequences if neglected.
- DVLA address update (V5C logbook) — failure to notify DVLA of your new address can result in a £1,000 fine.
- Electoral roll registration — no fine, but it directly affects your credit score and mortgage remortgage eligibility.
- Council tax — unpaid council tax accumulates quickly and councils have strong enforcement powers including bailiff referral. Register immediately.
- Buildings insurance lapse — your mortgage lender requires buildings insurance as a condition of the mortgage. Allowing it to lapse is a breach of your mortgage terms.
- Stamp duty (already paid at completion) — handled by your solicitor; not an action required of you, but confirm your solicitor has filed the SDLT return within 14 days of completion.
Your first-month checklist
| Task | When | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Take meter readings (gas, electric, water) | Completion day | So you don't pay the previous owner's usage |
| Set up energy & water accounts | Week 1 | Avoid estimated bills and late-start charges |
| Register for council tax | Week 1 | Legal requirement; can be backdated if you delay |
| Confirm buildings insurance is live | From exchange | It's a condition of your mortgage |
| Change the locks | Week 1 | You don't know who else holds a key |
| Update your address (bank, DVLA, employer, GP) | First month | Missed post, and DVLA fines if not updated |
| Find the stopcock & service the boiler | First month | Safety, and avoid a winter breakdown |
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when I move into my first home?
On completion day, take meter readings and change the locks. In week one, set up your energy, water and broadband accounts, and register for council tax. These are the tasks that either cost money or cause problems if you leave them, so they come before the fun of unpacking.
Do I need to tell the council I've moved in?
Yes — register for council tax with your new local authority straight away. It's a legal requirement, and if you delay, the bill is simply backdated to your completion date, so there's nothing to gain by putting it off.
When does my buildings insurance need to start?
From the day you exchange contracts, not completion. At exchange you're legally committed to buy, so you become responsible for insuring the building — and your lender will check the policy is in place. Most people arrange it to start on exchange for exactly this reason.
What admin carries penalties if I forget?
Council tax (backdated), DVLA address changes on your licence and V5C (fines for not updating), and telling your car insurer your new address. These are the ones with real financial consequences — the rest is convenience.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only. Rules, timescales and requirements may vary depending on your specific circumstances and location. Always verify current requirements with the relevant authority.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next review due: October 2026
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next review due: October 2026