Moving home checklist
Find out what you need to do and who you need to tell when you’re moving house with our free downloadable home-moving checklist.
Who should I inform about moving house?
Even if you use the Post Office’s mail-redirection service, it’s a good idea to inform important companies, such as banks and utility companies, directly.
Make a list of all the companies and organisations you need to inform, including their contact details and when to do it by.
Redirecting your mail and calls
If you’ve lived in your property for many years, you’ll have a lot of work to do updating people and companies with your new contact details.
You can make this process easier by using the Post Office’s change-of-address service, which takes up to 10 days to come into effect and redirects all mail to your new address. You should keep this service for six to 12 months after moving into your new home to avoid post going astray.
If you are changing your phone number, you can also arrange for your telephone company to automatically inform callers of your new number for a few weeks following the switchover date.
When to start packing to move home
The earlier you start packing, the better. Begin packing non-essentials a couple of weeks before moving day.
It’s worth planning where all your furniture will go a few weeks in advance of your move and disposing of any items you don’t want to take with you.
You may need to order packing cases, and possibly new curtains and carpets for your new property, too.
List of organisations and companies to contact
Here, we explain which organisations you’ll need to contact, and the key considerations to take into account.
Government bodies
Update your address with the DVLA for both your licence and the vehicle registration – but not before you move, as you may need your licence for identification and van hire. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to contact the HMRC, or the Department for Work and Pensions.
You’ll need to ask your local authority for a final statement of your council tax – and may even get a refund. And don’t forget to update your details on the electoral roll.
Contact:
Financial institutions
Banks, lenders and credit card companies will need to know your new details. This is especially important with current account and credit card providers, as these may use your current address as a security check or to verify your identity.
Contact:
- Banking and savings account providers
- Credit card companies
- Investment funds
- Store loyalty card providers
- Pension services.
Insurance providers
You should notify your contents insurance provider of when and where you will be moving. Check with them what is and is not insured during the move, as you may need to get additional insurance from them or the removals company.
Contact:
- Car insurance (and any breakdown services provider)
- Home insurance
- Mobile phone insurance
- Pet insurance
- Life insurance
- Health insurance (including dental insurance).
Utilities suppliers
Let your utilities providers know the exact date you’ll be moving. You should take meter readings as well as photographs of them (ideally date-stamped ones), and also do the same on the day you move in to your new home.
Contact:
- Water supplier
- Gas provider
- Electricity provider
Regular bills
Any company that provides a service you pay a regular bill for – such as a mobile phone provider, telecoms provider, magazine subscription etc – will also need to know about your change of address.
Contact:
- Home phone
- Broadband
- Cable TV
- Mobile phone
Health services
You’ll have to let any medical organisations you deal with know you’re moving as well. Make registering at your local GP a priority, as there may be a delay in getting treatment.
Contact:
- Local NHS doctor’s surgery – register ASAP so there are no delays when you need to see your GP
- Specialists, including dentist, optician, podiatrists.
Work and education contacts
Your employer, and your child’s school, will need your most current address details – especially if you’re listed as an emergency contact.
Contact:
- Your employers (and company pension fund)
- Colleagues and alumni networks
- Professional associations
- Schools, colleges and educational institutions
Leisure and family activities
Make sure your subscriptions are up-to-date – and share your address with any other organisations that might contact you via mail.
If you have any micro-chipped pets, be sure to update the details on their microchips.
Contact:
- Newspaper, magazine and newsletter subscriptions
- Clubs, including sports teams or gym
- Charities you support
- Pet microchip databases
