Moving into a new rental is a busy time, and the temptation is to leave the boring admin until after the boxes are unpacked. Resist it. Setting up your utilities in the first few days protects you from paying someone else's bills, avoids a cold shower on your first morning, and means you know exactly what you're spending each month. Here's how to get it right, whether you're a tenant taking the keys or a landlord handing them over.

Start With a Checklist Before You Collect the Keys

Most of what you need can be arranged in the fortnight before your tenancy begins, with the rest sorted on move-in day itself. Work through this list: gas, electricity, water, broadband, council tax and a television licence. Ask the letting agent or landlord which services are connected, whether any are included in the rent, and where the meters and stopcock are located.

In a city like Bath, this matters more than you might expect. Victorian terraces, converted Georgian townhouses and flats above shops all throw up their own quirks. A flat in Widcombe might share a water supply with the business below; a top-floor conversion in Larkhall may have no gas at all and run on electric heating instead. Knowing this before you move means no nasty surprises on your first bill.

Compare Suppliers — You Are Not Stuck With the Last Tenant's Choice

When a tenancy ends and nobody tells the supplier who has moved in, the property sits on a deemed contract with whoever supplied it previously. That keeps the lights on, but the rates are usually among the most expensive available. You are free to switch, and you do not need your landlord's permission to change energy supplier — only to alter meters or pipework.

Gather a recent bill or a meter reading, then compare tariffs using your estimated annual usage rather than the size of the property. Look closely at standing charges, exit fees and contract length. A twelve-month fixed deal rarely suits a six-month tenancy, and paying an early exit fee to leave is a false economy. Switching normally completes within about three weeks, so start early if you can.

Water works differently. Household water supply is not open to competition in England, so you will simply be billed by the regional supplier serving Bath. Broadband, by contrast, is fiercely competitive. Check the speed actually available at your specific postcode rather than the headline figure, and confirm whether the line is active or needs a new one fitted. New installations can take a fortnight, and older Bath properties sometimes require landlord consent for drilling or cabling.

Take Accurate Meter Readings on Day One

Before you unpack a single box, photograph every meter. Gas and electricity meters here are often tucked away in a cellar, under the stairs, in a hallway cupboard or outside in a wall-mounted box, while water meters tend to sit in a small chamber set into the pavement. Take a clear photo showing the serial number and the digits, then send the readings to the supplier and to your letting agent the same day.

This one habit stops you paying for the previous tenant's usage and gives you a benchmark for spotting leaks or a faulty appliance later. Store the photos somewhere you will find them again and note the date. If a reading looks unusually high on day one, report it in writing immediately — it is far easier to resolve in your first week than three months down the line.

Tell the Council About Your Move

Council tax does not transfer automatically when you move. You must inform your local authority that you have arrived, even if the previous occupier was paying, because charges run from the date you become liable. Prompt notification avoids a backdated demand landing on your doormat months later.

While you are on the phone, ask about discounts. A single person discount reduces the bill by 25% if you are the only adult in the property, and full-time students are usually exempt. It is also worth checking which band the property sits in and querying it if the band looks out of step with similar homes nearby. If you are renting a room in a shared house, council tax is often included in your rent — confirm this with the landlord rather than assuming.

Do Not Forget the Smaller Essentials

• Television licence — required for watching live television or using catch-up services, and it follows you rather than the property. Update your address as soon as you move.
• Contents insurance — your landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings. A basic policy is inexpensive and usually a condition of the tenancy agreement.
• Boiler and appliance care — check who is responsible for repairs before something breaks. Report faults in writing so there is a clear record of when you raised them.
• Waste and recycling — look up collection days for your street and find out where bins are stored, particularly in flats with shared communal areas.
• Keys and alarms — test smoke alarms on day one and ask for the code to any burglar alarm or entry system before the handover is complete.

A Note for Landlords and Letting Agents

Landlords can make this whole process painless with a short handover pack: meter locations and serial numbers, supplier names and account numbers, the position of the stopcock, bin collection days, the council tax band, and a note of any service included in the rent.

Confirm the change of tenancy with each supplier on the day keys are handed over, and provide the incoming tenant with written confirmation of their opening readings so there is no dispute later. During void periods, keep accounts live in your own name and tell suppliers the property is empty, as unoccupied homes can attract different standing charges. Finally, make sure a current Gas Safety Record and electrical installation condition report are in place before anyone moves in — tenants and utility providers alike will expect to see them.