First 30 Days After Settlement: Your Complete New Homeowner Checklist

Settlement day is a major milestone, but it is not the finish line. The first 30 days after taking ownership of your new property are critical for establishing security, setting up essential services, fulfilling legal obligations, and creating a maintenance plan that protects your investment for years to come. Many new homeowners feel overwhelmed once they receive the keys — there are dozens of tasks to complete, and some have strict deadlines.

This guide organises everything you need to do into a clear timeline: immediate tasks on settlement day, first-week priorities, first-month actions, and ongoing responsibilities.

Settlement Day: Immediate Tasks

These tasks should be completed on or immediately after settlement day:

1. Change the Locks

This is the single most important security task. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the existing keys are in circulation — previous owners, tenants, tradespeople, real estate agents, and neighbours may all have copies. Engage a licensed locksmith to rekey or replace all external locks, including front and back doors, garage entry, side gates, and any security screen doors. Budget $150 to $400 depending on the number of locks.

2. Connect Utilities

Arrange connections for electricity, gas, water, and internet before settlement day so they are active when you move in. If you have not already done this:

• Electricity and gas: Contact your chosen retailer to set up accounts. Take meter readings on settlement day.
• Water: Contact your local water authority to transfer the account into your name.
• Internet and phone: NBN connections can take 1-2 weeks, so arrange this early.

3. Redirect Your Mail

Set up mail redirection through Australia Post from your previous address. A 3-month redirection costs $49 and a 12-month redirection costs $132. This ensures important correspondence — including bills, bank statements, and government letters — reaches you while you update your address with all relevant organisations.

4. Update Your Address

Notify the following of your new address as soon as possible:

• Banks and financial institutions
• Employer and superannuation fund
• Medicare, Centrelink, and myGov
• Australian Taxation Office
• Health insurance provider
• Car insurance and registration (Roads and Maritime, VicRoads, TMR, etc.)
• Driver's licence authority
• Doctors, dentists, and specialists
• Children's schools or childcare centres
• Subscriptions and online accounts

First Week: Priority Actions

5. Verify Your Insurance

Confirm that your building insurance policy is active and correctly reflects the property details — address, construction type, sum insured, and any endorsements. If you are in a strata property, verify that the owners corporation's building insurance is current and that you have your own contents policy in place. See our property insurance guide for details on what you need.

6. Document the Property Condition

Walk through the entire property and take detailed photos and videos of every room, the exterior, garden, fences, driveway, and any existing damage or wear. This creates a dated record of the property's condition at the time you took possession. If any issues arise later — such as discovering a defect that may have been pre-existing — these records are invaluable.

7. Meet Your Neighbours

Introducing yourself to your immediate neighbours is more than a courtesy. Neighbours are your first line of local knowledge — they can tell you about bin collection days, local tradespeople, parking rules, and any neighbourhood quirks. Good relationships with neighbours also improve security, as they are more likely to keep an eye on your property and report anything unusual.

8. Test Safety Equipment

Check that all smoke alarms are present, functional, and compliant with current regulations. In most states, smoke alarms must be interconnected and powered by a 10-year lithium battery or hard-wired. Test each alarm, replace batteries if needed, and note the expiry date. Also check for a fire extinguisher (recommended for the kitchen) and ensure you know where the electrical switchboard, water main shut-off, and gas shut-off are located.

First Month: Administrative and Planning Tasks

9. Notify Your Local Council

Your council will be notified of the ownership change through the land titles office, but this can take several weeks. Contact your local council proactively to update the rates notice into your name and confirm the next payment due date. This is also a good time to ask about:

• Bin collection schedule and recycling rules
• Any planned local developments or road works
• Pet registration requirements
• Tree removal or pruning permits

10. Update the Electoral Roll

You are legally required to update your electoral enrolment within 8 weeks of moving to a new address. You can update your details online through the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website. Failing to update your enrolment can result in a fine.

11. Create a Home Maintenance Plan

Regular maintenance prevents small issues from becoming expensive repairs. Create a seasonal maintenance schedule covering:

• Quarterly: Clean gutters, check smoke alarms, inspect for leaks around wet areas
• Biannually: Service air conditioning, check roof for damage, inspect subfloor ventilation
• Annually: Professional pest inspection, repaint or touch up exterior timber, service hot water system
• Every 5 years: Major repaint, replace tap washers and seals, check electrical safety switches

12. Review Warranties and Manuals

If the property is relatively new, check what builder warranties are still in effect. In most states, new homes have a statutory warranty period of 6 years for structural defects and 2 years for non-structural defects. The vendor should have provided any appliance manuals, warranty certificates, and compliance certificates at settlement. Organise these in a dedicated folder.

13. Arrange Follow-Up Inspections

If your pre-purchase building inspection identified items that required monitoring or further investigation — such as minor cracking, subfloor moisture, or suspected asbestos — schedule follow-up inspections within the first few months. Addressing these issues early is always cheaper than waiting until they become major problems.

Ongoing Responsibilities

Pest Prevention

Termites cause more damage to Australian homes than fires, floods, and storms combined. If your property does not already have a termite management system in place (chemical barrier or baiting system), arrange an annual termite inspection at a minimum. In high-risk areas (most of Queensland, northern NSW, and the Northern Territory), a physical or chemical barrier is strongly recommended.

Garden and External Maintenance

Keep vegetation trimmed away from the house to reduce fire risk and pest entry points. Ensure drainage around the property is functioning correctly — water pooling against foundations is one of the leading causes of structural damage over time. Clear gutters and downpipes regularly, especially after autumn leaf fall.

Related Resources

• Moving House Checklist — Complete checklist for moving day
• Property Insurance Guide — Everything you need to know about property insurance
• Settlement Process Explained — What happens from exchange to settlement day

This guide is for general information only. Requirements may vary by state and property type. Always consult relevant authorities and professionals for advice specific to your situation.