Moving House Checklist: What Appliance Documents and Records to Keep
On this page
- What is a FENSA certificate?
- The master moving documents table
- Pre-move: secure your documents before the boxes go in
- 1. Photograph every appliance label
- 2. Photograph manual covers and warranty certificates
- 3. Check the boiler paperwork first
- 4. Sort the document piles
- Boiler warranty transfer: what actually happens
- Moving into your new home: the first-week inventory
- How to use JustTaggit on moving day
- Warranty transferability: a rough guide
- How JustTaggit helps with moving house
That drawer full of old manuals? A house move is your chance to fix it once and for all.
Before you pack a single box, photograph every appliance's model number, serial number, manual cover, and warranty certificate. Then, as you unpack in your new home, tag each appliance with a QR code and upload those photos. Your boiler service history, your fridge warranty, your FENSA certificates — make them digital before they vanish into a removal van.
Here's exactly what to keep, what the buyer needs from you, and how to set up a system that doesn't break.
What is a FENSA certificate?
A FENSA certificate (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) is proof that replacement windows, doors, or roof lights meet building regulations. When you sell a house, the buyer's solicitor will almost certainly ask for one. If you had windows or doors replaced after 2002 and can't find the certificate, your installer should have registered it with FENSA or another competent person scheme (CERTASS, BFRC, etc.).
The master moving documents table
Some documents go with the new owner, some come with you, and some you keep a copy of both ways.
| Document | Who keeps the original | Passes to buyer? | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler manual & warranty | Leave original with property | Yes | Buyer's solicitor will ask; service history required to keep warranty valid |
| EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) | Stays with property | Yes | Required by law to sell |
| EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) | Stays with property | Yes | Required for rentals; increasingly asked for in sales |
| Gas Safety Certificate (rented only) | Landlord keeps | N/A — tenant needs copy | Legal requirement for rented properties |
| Appliance manuals (items you take) | Take originals with you | Leave a digital copy | Help the new owner use what stays |
| FENSA / CERTASS certificates | Stays with property | Yes | Proof windows/doors meet building regs |
| Building Regulations certificates | Stays with property | Yes | Solicitor will ask during conveyancing |
| Boiler service history | Keep your copy | Pass a copy to buyer | Proves the boiler was maintained; required to keep manufacturer warranty valid |
| Planning permissions | Stays with property | Yes | Needed for extensions, loft conversions |
| Warranty certificates (appliances you take) | You keep the original | No | Your warranty follows you, not the house |
Pre-move: secure your documents before the boxes go in
Once the removal van arrives, paperwork vanishes. Do this at least a week before moving day.
1. Photograph every appliance label
Walk through every room and take a clear photo of the label showing make, model, and serial number. This includes:
- Kitchen: oven, hob, extractor fan, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave
- Utility: boiler, hot water cylinder, heating controls, water softener
- Bathroom: extractor fan, heated towel rail, shower pump
- Garage/shed: pressure washer, garden tools, alarm system
2. Photograph manual covers and warranty certificates
Don't bother scanning every page — you can find most manuals online with the model number. Just photograph the cover page and any warranty certificate or proof of purchase.
3. Check the boiler paperwork first
The boiler is the single most-asked-about document in any property sale. Buyers' solicitors routinely request the boiler manual, warranty certificate, and full service history. If you can't produce them, the buyer may ask for a professional inspection or a price reduction.
If you're the buyer and the seller can't find them, ask for a Gas Safe engineer to check the boiler before exchange.
4. Sort the document piles
Divide your paperwork into three piles:
- Pass to buyer: building regs certs, FENSA certs, EPC, EICR, boiler service history, planning permissions.
- Take with you: appliance manuals for items you're moving, personal warranties, receipts.
- Recycle: old utility bills, expired insurance policies, old manuals for appliances you no longer own.
Boiler warranty transfer: what actually happens
This is where most people get caught out — and where the draft originally got it wrong.
Worcester Bosch warranties are registered against the property address, not the original purchaser. That means they can transfer to the new owner — but only if annual services have been maintained by a Worcester Bosch-registered installer and the Benchmark Commissioning form was completed at installation. If annual servicing has lapsed, the warranty may already be void regardless of who owns the property.
Vaillant and Ideal terms vary by product and extended guarantee scheme. Always check directly with the manufacturer before making any assumptions in a sale or purchase.
The practical upshot:
- If you're selling: provide the full service history and the original warranty documents. A buyer can verify transferability with the manufacturer if needed. A well-maintained boiler with complete records is worth more than one without.
- If you're buying: ask for the service history and check with the manufacturer whether the warranty is still valid. Budget for a boiler inspection from a Gas Safe engineer regardless.
- If you're renting: the landlord's warranty covers the property. Make sure the landlord provides an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate.
Moving into your new home: the first-week inventory
Once you arrive, do a walkthrough within the first week. This is the moment to set up a system that lasts.
| Room | Appliances to find | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Oven, hob, extractor, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer | Make, model, serial, photo of labels |
| Utility room | Boiler, hot water cylinder | Model, Gas Safe register check, service history |
| Bathroom | Extractor fan, heated towel rail, shower unit | Make, model |
| Heating cupboard | Boiler, pump, controls | Model, install date, last service date |
| Living areas | Smart thermostats, smoke alarms, CO detectors | Make, model, battery date |
| Garage/garden | Shed alarm, gate motor, EV charger | Make, model |
How to use JustTaggit on moving day
- Tag as you unpack. Stick a QR code on each appliance before it goes in its final position.
- Upload the documents. Scan the tag, then upload the photos you took before the move: manual, warranty, service history, proof of purchase.
- Set warranty reminders. Most appliance warranties expire without you noticing. A JustTaggit reminder gives you a window to decide whether to extend.
- Adopt any existing tags. If the previous owner used JustTaggit and left tags on appliances, you can adopt them and add your own documents while keeping the history.
Warranty transferability: a rough guide
Always verify current terms directly with the manufacturer before relying on this table.
| Brand / Type | Standard warranty transferable? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester Bosch boilers | Potentially — warranty is against the property address, but valid servicing history is required | Provide full service records; buyer should verify with Worcester Bosch |
| Vaillant boilers | Varies by product and extended guarantee scheme | Check directly with Vaillant — terms have changed in recent years |
| Ideal boilers | Standard warranty generally non-transferable | Provide full service records to the buyer |
| Most kitchen appliances (Hotpoint, Beko, Indesit, Zanussi) | Typically non-transferable | Share manuals and proof of purchase so the new owner can register separately |
| Retailer guarantees (John Lewis, AO.com, Currys) | Usually tied to the purchaser | Contact the retailer — some may transfer extended care plans at their discretion |
| Samsung / LG / electronics | Standard 1–2 year warranty non-transferable | Keep your proof of purchase for items you take with you |
| Building fabric guarantees (roof, windows, damp-proofing) | Usually transferable — check the specific guarantee terms | FENSA certs and building regs certs should stay with the property |
How JustTaggit helps with moving house
A house move is the one time you have access to every appliance in both properties — the one you're leaving and the one you're arriving at. It's the ideal moment to tag everything.
JustTaggit QR codes stay on the appliance permanently. Scan one and you get the manual, warranty, service history, and expiry dates for that item. When you sell, you transfer the digital records to the new owner in a couple of taps. When you buy a house with existing tags, you adopt them and build your own history on top.
Up: Moving Home Essentials Checklist
Across: Organising Household Paperwork
Across: Home Inventory for Insurance
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give the buyer the appliance manuals when selling my house?
No, but it's good practice. You're not legally required to hand over manuals for appliances you're taking with you. But for items that stay with the property — boiler, oven, hob — leaving the manuals helps the new owner and avoids questions from their solicitor.
Can I take the boiler with me when I move?
Almost never. A boiler is considered a fixture and stays with the property unless you explicitly agreed otherwise in the sale contract. The same goes for radiators, pipework, and heating controls.
What building regulations certificates do I need when selling?
Buyers' solicitors typically ask for certificates for work done in the last 10-15 years: loft conversions, extensions, new windows (FENSA), new boiler installation, rewiring (EICR), and replacement roofs. If you don't have them, you may need indemnity insurance.
How long do I need to keep old utility bills?
You don't need to pass old bills to the buyer. Keep them until the final bill for your old address is settled, then recycle them. The exception is solar panel feed-in tariff statements — keep those.
What happens to my home insurance when I move?
Your existing policy won't cover your new home. You'll need a new policy for the new property, and you can cancel the old one (most insurers will refund the remaining term). No-claims discounts usually transfer.
Should I keep original packaging for appliances?
Not unless the appliance is still under warranty and you have space. Most warranties don't require the original box. Photograph the label (model, serial, barcode) and recycle the box — JustTaggit can store that photo against the item.