To ask For your advice about new home?

[Newflat2020]

Hello
Apologies if this is not the best place but for traffic I’m hoping it might be!

I’m due to complete on my flat tomorrow. I’m a first time home owner and it’s been a long time coming. I’m very excited but also incredibly naive and have no parents or relatives able to advise me.

I’ve been researching online for answers but am floundering a bit and was wondering if I could get advice here about anything I need to do/be aware of on moving in?

I think I’m all sorted for packing and unpacking but it’s things like taking meter readings when I arrive and stuff like that. Are there any obvious things I need to do or set up once I move in? I wish you got given a starter pack for what to do when you move in but I really am clueless.

Thank you!

How exciting for you! This will get you started.

Council tax
TV licence
Register to vote
Redirect mail / change address with doctors, dentists, bank etc
Find a new dentist / doctor possibly?
Gas & electricity that you've mentioned
If you claim any benefits let DWP know
Update HMRC with new address
Let work place know

Take meter readings, be aware water particularly may be in a less than obvious location, and photos of them in case of query later. Set forwarding up for mail. Broadband can take a while to set up. When you enter look for spare keys especially for windows and any appliance instructions, or google them online, so you know how they work.

have you got your buildings and contents insurance in place? (or perhaps with a flat the freeholder sorts the buildings insurance?)

make sure you have (working) smoke alarms and if you have gas appliances carbon monoxide alarms.

Insurance
Find out when bin day is
Read meters
Contact council/doctors/DVLA etc
Check you have all keys for locks on doors, windows, sheds

There's stuff you should have done earlier (like redirect your mail as it takes a while for it to get through the system).
In addition to what's been mentioned, inform: car registration/license, and your bank.
Hopefully the estate agent can tell you when garbage/recycling days are as I found it quite difficult through council websites, though as if it's a flat in a large building there will be designated areas - check your head lease or managing agents pack (you should have received thos from your solicitor) which should explain this.
Hopefully you will have packed a box of essentials and labelled it! Kettle, some cutlery and dishes, bed linen and a few clothes and toiletries so you can go to bed tomorrow without opening several boxes trying to find your toothbrush!
It's very exciting and don't worry if you forget to do something immediately. Meter readings are important but if you call them Monday with the readings that will be fine (taking photos is a good idea).
Broadband and phone lines and satellite may take days to weeks to set up but again if you are in a large building it may be part of the complex- this should be detailed in your seller's information form (who their supplier was etc).

I'd take photos of the meter readings, just to keep in case. Are the previous owners leaving water and electricity connected? People almost always do unless the place has been empty for ages. Find out who the current provider is and stay with them in the very short term, then shop around for a better deal once you've settled in.

Is your water metered? If so, don't forget about that. You'll need to tell your local water company you've moved in anyway.

Have you got a landline at the property? Do you want one if not? Is broadband there? You'll need to decide on a broadband provider and get that sorted.

Presumably the property is leasehold? How often do you pay the service charge and ground rent? Your solicitor should know that .

Congratulations!
Re insurance, your buildings insurance may be included in your service charge, so check that out. If so youll just need contents insurance.