Moving in together is the most expensive month most flatshares ever have. Deposit, first month's rent, agency fees, the contents-insurance someone insisted on, the cookware nobody owned, the shared groceries to start the kitty.
TL;DR
Set up the flat group on day one of the tenancy. Pre-load the deposit and first-month rent as group expenses. Log moving costs, cleaning, and starter purchases as they happen. Settle within two weeks of move-in.
The expenses that need logging
Pre-tenancy
- Deposit: usually 4-6 weeks of rent. Splits in the same proportions as rent (usually equal, sometimes weighted by room - see how to split rent fairly when rooms aren't equal).
- Holding deposit:typically one week's rent paid before tenancy signing; gets credited against first rent or deposit.
- Agency / referencing fees: banned in England since 2019, still common elsewhere. Equal split.
- First month's rent: almost always due on move-in day. Splits in the same proportions you agreed.
Move-in week
- Moving van or hire: equal split if everyone moved on the same day, weighted if not.
- Pre-move cleaning: equal split. Worth logging receipts in case the landlord disputes the state at handover.
- Locks / keys: equal split; each flatmate needs a key.
- Initial groceries: the first weekly shop is usually 2-3x normal. Equal split; this is the start of the groceries kitty.
Setup costs
- Internet setup: often £50-£100 setup plus monthly. Equal split.
- Council tax registration: usually no upfront fee but add to ongoing utilities tracking.
- TV licence: £170/year. Equal split if anyone watches live or BBC iPlayer.
Stuff for the flat
- Cookware nobody owned:equal split or shared by whoever didn't bring any.
- Crockery, cutlery, glassware: ditto.
- Cleaning supplies: initial stock; from then on funded by the groceries kitty.
- Hoover, mop, iron: equal split, or whoever provided one gets credit.
The setup, in order
Day one of tenancy
- Create a EvenRound group for the flat. Add all flatmates.
- Log the deposit, first month's rent, any pre-tenancy fees.
- Send everyone the link with the running balance.
Move-in week
Each flatmate logs whatever they pay for as they pay for it. Don't batch at the end of the week.
End of week 2
Tap "Settle up" in the app. Each flatmate sees who they owe. Send the transfer. Books clean.
What about the deposit return?
That comes later - usually 4-8 weeks after tenancy ends. When it lands, log it as an inverse expense (paid by the landlord back to whoever fronted, split per the original rent proportions).
What we'd do differently
Most groups try to remember move-in expenses and reconcile at the end of week one. It always misses something. Logging as you go is the only version that captures everything.
Related reading
Try it
On signing day, create a flat group and pin the link in the flat WhatsApp.