When you look round a council property as a prospective tenant, you won’t be seeing it at its best – so it might be quite hard for you to imagine it as your future home.

Here’s a checklist of the work we’ll be doing on the property. Once all of these are done, it will look and feel more like a home.

Please take a look at the list before you decide on whether you’d like the property. It’s a big decision to make, and we don’t want you to be put off by something that we will be dealing with.

Before you move in, we will:

• Check that the property is safe and secure, and wind and water tight.
• Check that all electrical switches and fittings are in place and are in safe working order, and carry out an electrical safety check before you move in.
• Have gas safety checks carried out.
• Make sure there is some form of heating and a source of hot water, and that both are in good working order.
• Check there is a gas and/or electrical cooker point (Please note: it is vital that you have your cooker connected by a qualified and competent person. The Council is not responsible for connecting cookers).
• Clean the sinks and sanitary fittings.
• Make sure that all living areas are free from rubbish.
• Issue you with a full set of keys, once you have signed for your new tenancy.

On the day you move in, we will:

• Remove all security screens and re-glaze windows where necessary.

Once you have moved in, we will:

• Remove any outside rubbish that was there before you moved in (but not any rubbish from your moving in, such as cardboard boxes or your unwanted belongings).
• Repair any fences, gates or paths.

Meters

• Once you have moved in you will have to contact the gas and electricity suppliers to give them your details and meter readings.
• You are also responsible for having a gas or electricity meter fitted, if necessary. (When you sign for the property you will be told if the meters have been removed).

Decoration

• We do not normally redecorate homes before new tenants move in, although we may make an exception for tenants that are disabled or pensioners.
• However, you may be entitled to a decorating allowance in the form of decorating vouchers. The housing officer will discuss this with you when you sign up for your new tenancy.

Taking notes

• During your visit to your prospective home you may want to note down any questions you would like to ask the housing officer when you return the keys.

Empty properties

• When you move into an empty property it should:
• Be wind and watertight.
• Be secure, with changed door locks and full sets of keys for all external doors being available.
• Have usable windows
• Have safe paths
• Taps and waste for plumbed in washing machine (if there is currently space available in the kitchen).
• Have a hot water system that is operable.
• Have a working, clean and usable toilet.
• Have a useable bath or shower.
• Have a usable sink.
• Have a safe and useable form of space heating
• Have all internal doors on and in place.
• Have useable worktops and cupboards.
• Have all floors made good with no loose, dangerous or missing floorboards.
• Have a balustrade to the staircase and landing
• Ceilings to be in good order.
• Not have any polystyrene tiles.
• Have safe and working electrical fittings, with no exposed wires or cables.
• Have an electrical cooker and/or gas cooker point.
• Have no graffiti in the property.
• Have no mould growth.
• Have no rubbish inside the property, including the loft.
• Kitchen layouts, in empty properties, should have space for two electrical white goods in addition to the cooker (wherever possible without major works being required, such as extending the kitchen.)