Life Events
Good luck in your new home!
Moving home can be a very stressful experience
Moving to Tameside from another area
Welcome to Tameside!
For information about what's on in Tameside look at the Events calendar. Our home page has a map with links to every town in Tameside - these pages hold details of a range of services and attractions from local markets, useful facts, history, know your councillor etc.
For a range of services take a look at Finding Services in Your New Area
Buying a home
Looking for a home
When you start looking for a home there are plenty of places to look.
- You can look in your local estate agents. To find your nearest one look at Tameside Council's Business Directory
- You can search the internet, look on our Useful Links for an example of online estate agents.
- You can look in your local press.
Council Tax
One thing to consider when moving home is the Council Tax band that your new property will be in.
Find out the current Council Tax Rates for each Band.
Financial Advice
There are a number of hidden charges to consider when moving house, listed below are just a few to consider.
- Stamp Duty
Don't forget that if the house that you are planning to buy will cost more than £125,000 then you will need to pay stamp duty. Stamp duty is a government tax on property purchases which is usually itemised with your solicitor's bill.
- Arrangement Fee
The arrangement Fee covers the administrative expenses involved in setting up your home loan.
- Valuation Fee
It is strongly recommended that you have a thorough survey carried out on the property you are going to buy, as this will tell you about its condition and highlight any specific problems. There are three types of survey available and your mortgage provider will arrange one of these for you.
- Legal Fees
You will need a solicitor to help you through the legal aspects of buying a house. Fees can vary, so it might be worth getting quotations from two or three different firms.
Legal Advice
It is important to get legal advice when buying or selling a home. Your solicitor will do a number of searches in relation to the house that you are buying including making sure that the people selling the house actually own it. They will also arrange the transfer of deeds and the signing of contracts.
Selling a home
There are a number of ways that you can sell your home. You can use an estate agent or you can sell your home yourself, advertising in the local free press. If you don't have much free time and are not able to take phone calls at any time an estate agent may be the better option. There are many around and their fees vary greatly so shop around and ask friends and family for recommendations.
Tips for Selling your Home
- First impressions count - Make sure that the entrance to your home is clear of any debris and the front door looks neat and tidy.
- Aroma - Don't go mad with the air freshener. Some top aroma tips are to put a vanilla pod in the oven or grill a coffee bean.
- Tidy up - It may seem obvious but a buyer will be scrutinising your home. Make sure that you pay particular attention to your bathroom and kitchen, a buyer will.
- Check taps and lights - Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolours sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. The same goes for lighting, make sure you replace any burnt out bulbs. Don't let little problems detract from what's right with your home.
- Clear out clutter and personal effects - Potential buyers are looking for a property that they can see themselves living in. Too many personal effects and clutter will make it more difficult for them to do this.
- Avoid crowd scenes - Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they are likely to rush through.
- Watch your pets - Pets have a talent for getting under foot, so try to keep them out of the way.
Legal Advice
It is important to get legal advice when buying or selling a home. Your solicitor will arrange the transfer of deeds and the signing of contracts.
Council Housing
Tameside has transferred responsibility for its Council houses to Jigsaw Homes (was New Charter) (see below).
Renting a home
When looking for a home to rent you can look in the local press, or many estate agents advertise homes to rent.
Jigsaw Homes (was New Charter)
Jigsaw Homes (New Charter Housing Trust Group) exists to build and support communities in the provision of safe, comfortable, secure and affordable homes through partnership with customers and others. It formed in 1999 as the new landlords to own and manage nearly 16,500 properties transferred from Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. For more information https://tameside.jigsawhomes.org.uk/ 
.
Help with Rent
If you are claiming Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance or have a low income you may be able to claim Housing Benefit. Housing Benefit is a government scheme to help you pay your rent. View more information about Housing Benefit.
Complaints about Disrepair in Private Rented Property
If you are having difficulties in having repairs carried out, and would like the Council to provide advice and assistance, please visit making a complaint regarding your private rented property.
Who to Inform about Your Move
- Council
Fill in the on-line change of name or address form and we will tell Council Tax. We can also inform a number of other council services inc. schools, education, libraries etc. if you require.
- Electoral Register
Use the Register to Vote website to register online.
- Utilities
Arrange to have all meters read on the day or the day before you move.
- Telephone
Notify your phone company. If you are with a cable company or are moving within the same exchange area you may be able to keep the same number.
- Car
You will need to inform your motor insurance company and breakdown service.
- DSS/Benefits
You need to inform the benefits agency if you are claiming any benefits including child benefit.
- Bank
Your bank needs your new address including any banks or building societies where you hold a savings account.
- Mail
Have your post redirected by filling in a form at the post office. The charges for this vary depending on the length of time that you need this service.
- DVLA
It is illegal to have a driving licence with an incorrect address. The DVLA website contains all the information you need to change your details.
- Contents Insurance
Tell your insurer your new address and moving date and make sure that you are covered during the move. Otherwise you may invalidate your insurance.
Print out a full checklist on Moving Home(0.05MB)
Finding Services in your New Area
Want to know where your nearest hairdressers, gyms, newsagents, dentists etc. are, then search Tameside Council's Business Directory for a comprehensive list of businesses in Tameside.
Childcare
For advice on childcare and a list of childcare providers in your new area visit the Surestart webpages.
Refuse collection
View information on refuse collections in Tameside.
Changing Schools
It is generally in a child's best interest to remain at the same school. If this is not practical, you should speak to the headteacher of your child's current school and request a transfer form.
If your child is at the end of primary or secondary education, you should consider whether it is possible to time your house move to avoid unnecessary disruption. GCSE options are often very difficult to match at a new school.
View a list of school's in Tameside.
Changing Health Care
If you are moving into a different town or area it may be necessary to change your GP, Dentist, Optician, etc. This is something that you will have to discuss with your individual healthcare professionals.
For a list of healthcare provisions in your area, www.nhs.uk/pages/home.aspx You can also use this link for a list of chemists in the area.
The Move
Four months before moving
- Before your weekends are eaten up house hunting and packing, get rid of all that clutter. Consider doing a car boot sale or donating to charity. Be ruthless if it's been in the loft for 2 years and you've not missed it you're unlikely to use it again.
Three months before moving
- Make arrangements with moving company or reserve a rental van. Get at least three quotes and go with a reputable company, ask friends for recommendations.
Two months before moving
- Make up a standard change-of-address letter or find out about getting cards printed with your new address and phone number.
- Investigate which companies supply fuel to your new home and what they charge. You've got time to compare rates and find the cheapest supplier.
One month before moving
- Once you have your completion date you can start informing people of your new address. Use the Tameside form and checklist above to help.
- Start packing. You can start off your packing now by packing things like seasonal items (Christmas decorations etc) and items that you definitely know you won't be using.
- Make arrangements for transporting pets.
- Take an inventory of your belongings before they're packed, in case you need to fill in an insurance claim later.
Start using up food items, so that there is less left to pack and possibly spoil.
One to two weeks before moving
- Arrange for people to help you on moving day.
- Switch utility services to new address.
- Defrost freezer and refrigerator. Place deodoriser inside to control odours.
- Cancel future milk and newspaper deliveries and settle bills.
- Send out final moving notification letters, follow the checklist above.
- Reconfirm the important things (removal company, key exchanges etc) two or three days before the move.
The night before
- Make sure you have a box of essentials, including a first-aid kit, regular medication, a few light bulbs, a toilet roll, your kettle with tea-making things and clean bed linen. Take this in your car with you on moving day.
On moving day
- Double check, closet, drawers, shelves, attic and garage to be sure that they are empty.
- Carry important documents, money and jewellery yourself.
After arriving at your new home
- Locate the hospitals, police stations, and vets near your home
Packing
- Work out what packing items you will need; cardboard boxes of all sizes, large plastic bags, industrial strength packing tape (preferably the type that can be written on), permanent marker, fragile stickers in an eye catching colour, scissors, bubble wrap or newspapers. Use towels and linen for packing fragile items.
- It's a good idea to begin with items that you know you definitely won't be using such as seasonal items and clothing.
- Put heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in large boxes.
- Instead of packing a room at a time pack the least commonly used items in each room this will mean that you can start packing sooner.
- Pictures - Start by clearing off the walls. These are for looks rather than need.
- Bedrooms - Start with a bedroom. Pack up all the clothes that you know you won't be wearing before the move (such as seasonal items) before the move. Continue this process with all the bedrooms.
- Bathrooms - Go to the bathroom and pack up all the items that are not necessary. For example, the luxury bath items, the 12-pack of soap you bought on sale, the hot rollers you use occasionally, the extra towels.
- Children's toys - Most children have more than their fair share of toys. Pack up some toys now but remember to leave out favourites. This is a good time to donate or sell any items that the children have outgrown. There is no point packing up items that your children will not play with once moved.
- Kitchen - Start emptying the shelves in the kitchen. You probably have a collection of baking tins you only use occasionally. Why not pack these up? If you have food products that you know you won't need before you move, why not pack them up?
- After you have done each room once around , you are getting closer to your moving date. You can then continue in each room, packing up those items which are now not likely to be needed.
- Label the contents of all boxes and which room in the new house they should end up in. If you've got time, draw a floorplan of each room in your new house with your chosen positions for furniture, so you won't have lots of furniture to move about while you're settling in.
- Make sure you put valuables and important documents somewhere safe while moving - ideally in a box in your car.
Moving Safely
View advice on keeping your home and its contents safe while moving.
What to do with rubbish
If you have a large item such as a piece of furniture or a fridge etc that you wish to dispose of, Tameside Council offer a Bulky Household Refuse Removal Service.
Alternatively you can take your rubbish to a local civic amenity site or your local recycling sites.