What you can expect when you move in

Tap the links to learn more about the standard you can expect when you move into your new home.

Gardening scene with a green watering can, colourful flowers in pots and soil, and a pair of green gardening gloves placed near the centre.

Gardens

All gardens will be cut back and any rubbish removed. Sheds, greenhouses and other similar structures will be removed unless they are in good condition. If there is a brick built outhouse which is structurally sound this will be left for you to use as a storage area. Some gardens may have a concrete base which can be used to erect your own shed onto.

Blue plastic basket containing assorted cleaning supplies including spray bottles, sponges, liquid containers, and a cloth in various colours.

Cleaning

We will clean your home before you move in. This will include all hard surfaces and sweeping and mopping floors. We will also place air fresheners in your home.

White painted exterior wall.

Exterior painting

SLH will paint or stain any previously decorated surfaces to the exterior of your home (excluding fencing and gates) on a seven year cycle. You will be informed when your home is due for external painting when you sign-up for your home.

Close-up of a double-glazed window frame showing the seal and spacer between two glass panes, with a blurred outdoor background.

External doors

All external doors and frames will be free from any damage that would affect the door opening and closing with ease. Each external door will have a lock change before you move in.

Hand turning a white handle on a partially open window with a mesh screen, and blurred buildings visible in the background.

Windows and glazing

All glazing will be intact and all windows that are designed to open will have been lubricated and will be easy to operate. A minimum of 3 window lock keys will be provided and these will operate all the windows.

Interlocking brick pattern in a herringbone design with a large blurred rectangular area in the centre obscuring part of the bricks.

Paving

All paving within the boundaries of your home will be safe and free of tripping hazards. Paving that has not been carried out by SLH and is in poor condition will be removed and the ground topsoiled and finished with turf or seed before you move in. Unapproved driveways may be removed.

Brown doormat with the word 'WELCOME' in black letters, placed on a concrete surface with two brown shoes visible in front of it.

Welcome pack

When you move in, you will find a welcome pack in the kitchen.

Close-up of a paint roller with an orange handle applying white paint to a wall.

Decoration

You are responsible for decorating the inside of your home including filling small holes and cracks with decorator’s filler. If we determine that the interior decoration is in poor condition we will give you an allowance which will be issued to you in the form of a decoration voucher. Please note that any decoration allowance is to help towards the cost of your materials but may not cover all your costs.

Close-up of a modern chrome bathroom faucet with two handles and a central spout, mounted on a white sink.

Bathrooms and toilets

All bathroom and toilet fittings will be clean and in good working order. We will also install new toilet seats. The tiles around your bath and basin will be clean and in good condition.

Modern stainless steel gas cooktop with four burners and black grates, set into a light-coloured countertop with grey tiled backsplash and control knobs on the right.

Kitchens

Kitchen units, worktops, wall tiling and sinks will be clean and in good working order. We will attempt to provide both gas and electric cooker points but this may not always be possible. Plumbing in washing machines and other appliances is your responsibility. It is also your responsibility to arrange the connection of your gas cooker by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Person using an orange-handled wrench to adjust a metallic pipe connection under a sink, with white tiled walls in the background.

Water supplies

All accessible pipe work and wastes will be checked to ensure they are working correctly and are free from leaks and other defects. We will install a Surestop water switch in your home for quick and easy shutting off of the water supply in the event of a flood or burst pipe.

Wooden floor with a herringbone pattern made of rectangular planks in varying shades of brown.

Floors

All floors and fixed floor coverings will be in a fair and safe condition. Some floorboards may have developed slight movement or minor cracking but they will be free of major faults. It is your responsibility to check that your chosen floor coverings and underlay are suitable for the type of floors they are being laid onto. If your floor coverings need to be moved to allow for maintenance and repair of your home, then it is your responsibility to have these taken up and re-fitted.

Close-up of a hand adjusting a digital thermostat displaying a temperature of 21°C.

Gas and heating

The gas supply will be capped off when you move in. We will carry out a full gas safety check to ensure that the heating system is in good working order once you tell us the supply is on. The engineer will also show you how to use the heating controls.

White electrical wall socket with two switches; a black plug is inserted into the left socket, while the right socket is empty.

Electrics

All electrics including smoke alarms in your home will be safety checked and a copy of the testing certificate will be provided to you. Any electric appliances we provide in your home will also be checked.

Person wearing red gloves and green pants kneeling on a wooden surface, unrolling yellow fiberglass insulation between wooden beams.

Energy efficiency

Improvements have been made to our homes which will help reduce running costs. These include:

  • Loft insulation
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Lagging to pipes and tanks
  • Double Glazing
  • Energy efficient boilers
  • Full range of heating controls

You will receive a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate which tells you the annual average expected energy running costs and the carbon output.

Row of falling wooden dominoes approaching a small black umbrella shielding a miniature wooden house with lit windows, set against a blurred green outdoor background.

Home contents insurance

South Liverpool Homes do not insure your furniture, belongings or decorations. You need to take out your own insurance to protect your belongings in the event of a fire, flood, theft and vandalism. We have set up a low cost scheme which has been developed in partnership with Royal Sun Alliance. Find out more here.

Gardens

Gardens

All gardens will be cut back and any rubbish removed. Sheds, greenhouses and other similar structures will be removed unless they are in good condition. If there is a brick built outhouse which is structurally sound this will be left for you to use as a storage area. Some gardens may have a concrete base which can be used to erect your own shed onto.

Gardening scene with a green watering can, colourful flowers in pots and soil, and a pair of green gardening gloves placed near the centre.
Cleaning

Cleaning

We will clean your home before you move in. This will include all hard surfaces and sweeping and mopping floors. We will also place air fresheners in your home.

Blue plastic basket containing assorted cleaning supplies including spray bottles, sponges, liquid containers, and a cloth in various colours.
Exterior painting

Exterior painting

SLH will paint or stain any previously decorated surfaces to the exterior of your home (excluding fencing and gates) on a seven year cycle. You will be informed when your home is due for external painting when you sign-up for your home.

White painted exterior wall.
External doors

External doors

All external doors and frames will be free from any damage that would affect the door opening and closing with ease. Each external door will have a lock change before you move in.

Close-up of a double-glazed window frame showing the seal and spacer between two glass panes, with a blurred outdoor background.
Windows and glazing

Windows and glazing

All glazing will be intact and all windows that are designed to open will have been lubricated and will be easy to operate. A minimum of 3 window lock keys will be provided and these will operate all the windows.

Hand turning a white handle on a partially open window with a mesh screen, and blurred buildings visible in the background.
Paving

Paving

All paving within the boundaries of your home will be safe and free of tripping hazards. Paving that has not been carried out by SLH and is in poor condition will be removed and the ground topsoiled and finished with turf or seed before you move in. Unapproved driveways may be removed.

Interlocking brick pattern in a herringbone design with a large blurred rectangular area in the centre obscuring part of the bricks.
Welcome pack

Welcome pack

When you move in, you will find a welcome pack in the kitchen.

Brown doormat with the word 'WELCOME' in black letters, placed on a concrete surface with two brown shoes visible in front of it.
Decoration

Decoration

You are responsible for decorating the inside of your home including filling small holes and cracks with decorator’s filler. If we determine that the interior decoration is in poor condition we will give you an allowance which will be issued to you in the form of a decoration voucher. Please note that any decoration allowance is to help towards the cost of your materials but may not cover all your costs.

Close-up of a paint roller with an orange handle applying white paint to a wall.
Bathroom and toilets

Bathrooms and toilets

All bathroom and toilet fittings will be clean and in good working order. We will also install new toilet seats. The tiles around your bath and basin will be clean and in good condition.

Close-up of a modern chrome bathroom faucet with two handles and a central spout, mounted on a white sink.
Kitchens

Kitchens

Kitchen units, worktops, wall tiling and sinks will be clean and in good working order. We will attempt to provide both gas and electric cooker points but this may not always be possible. Plumbing in washing machines and other appliances is your responsibility. It is also your responsibility to arrange the connection of your gas cooker by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Modern stainless steel gas cooktop with four burners and black grates, set into a light-coloured countertop with grey tiled backsplash and control knobs on the right.
Water supply

Water supplies

All accessible pipe work and wastes will be checked to ensure they are working correctly and are free from leaks and other defects. We will install a Surestop water switch in your home for quick and easy shutting off of the water supply in the event of a flood or burst pipe.

Person using an orange-handled wrench to adjust a metallic pipe connection under a sink, with white tiled walls in the background.
Floors

Floors

All floors and fixed floor coverings will be in a fair and safe condition. Some floorboards may have developed slight movement or minor cracking but they will be free of major faults. It is your responsibility to check that your chosen floor coverings and underlay are suitable for the type of floors they are being laid onto. If your floor coverings need to be moved to allow for maintenance and repair of your home, then it is your responsibility to have these taken up and re-fitted.

Wooden floor with a herringbone pattern made of rectangular planks in varying shades of brown.
Gas and heating

Gas and heating

The gas supply will be capped off when you move in. We will carry out a full gas safety check to ensure that the heating system is in good working order once you tell us the supply is on. The engineer will also show you how to use the heating controls.

Close-up of a hand adjusting a digital thermostat displaying a temperature of 21°C.
Electrics

Electrics

All electrics including smoke alarms in your home will be safety checked and a copy of the testing certificate will be provided to you. Any electric appliances we provide in your home will also be checked.

White electrical wall socket with two switches; a black plug is inserted into the left socket, while the right socket is empty.
Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency

Improvements have been made to our homes which will help reduce running costs. These include:

  • Loft insulation
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Lagging to pipes and tanks
  • Double Glazing
  • Energy efficient boilers
  • Full range of heating controls

You will receive a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate which tells you the annual average expected energy running costs and the carbon output.

Person wearing red gloves and green pants kneeling on a wooden surface, unrolling yellow fiberglass insulation between wooden beams.
Home contents insurance

Home contents insurance

South Liverpool Homes do not insure your furniture, belongings or decorations. You need to take out your own insurance to protect your belongings in the event of a fire, flood, theft and vandalism. We have set up a low cost scheme which has been developed in partnership with Royal Sun Alliance. Find out more here.

Row of falling wooden dominoes approaching a small black umbrella shielding a miniature wooden house with lit windows, set against a blurred green outdoor background.

Related

Close-up of hands using a screwdriver to install or repair an electrical wall switch next to a glass door or window.

Repair responsibilities

Understand which jobs in and around your home are your responsibility as customers, and which jobs are the responsibility of SLH as your landlord.

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Close-up of a window with condensation and water droplets on the glass, a white frame, and a small green succulent in a geometric blue pot on the windowsill, illustrating indoor humidity and moisture concerns

Damp, mould and condensation

Understanding the causes and how to report damp, mould and condensation at South Liverpool Homes.

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A hand holding a beige ribbed hot water bottle against a solid yellow background.

Heating repairs

Your guide to dealing with common heating problems.

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