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Moving house checklist
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Read on to find out exactly which organisations need to be contacted, as well as how to pack and prepare before moving out.
Organisations and companies to contact
Government bodies
You'll need to update your address with the DVLA for both your driving licence and vehicle registration. Don't do this before you move, though, as you might need your driving licence for identification and van hire.
Ask your local authority for a final council tax statement – you might even get a refund.
You'll also need to get your TV licence transferred to your new address, and update your details on the electoral roll.
Who to contact:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
- Electoral roll
- TV Licensing
- Your local authority.
Financial institutions
Your bank and credit card providers might use your address as part of their security checks to verify your identity, so make sure it’s up to date.
Who to contact:
- banking and savings account providers
- credit card companies
- investment funds
- store loyalty card providers
- pension services.
Insurance providers
Tell your contents insurance provider when and where you'll be moving. Ask it what is and isn't insured during the move, as you might need to get additional insurance from it or your removals company.
Contact any companies you have insurance with, including:
- car insurance (and any breakdown services provider)
- home insurance
- mobile phone insurance
- pet insurance
- life insurance
- health insurance (including dental insurance).
Utility suppliers
Tell your utility providers the exact date you'll be moving. On moving day, take meter readings and photos of the meters in both your old home and the new one.
Who to 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 - will also need to know about your change of address.
Contact providers for your:
- home phone
- broadband
- TV subscription services
- mobile phone.
Health services
If you're moving to a new area, make registering with a local GP a priority, as there could be a delay in getting treatment when you first register.
Who to contact:
- local NHS doctor's surgery
- specialists, such as your dentist and optician.
Work and education contacts
Your employer and children's school(s) will need your address details, especially if you're listed as an emergency contact.
Who to contact:
- your employer (and company pension fund)
- colleagues and alumni networks
- professional associations
- schools, colleges and educational institutions.
Leisure and family activities
Ensure your subscriptions are up to date, and share your address with any other organisations that might contact you via post.
If your pets are microchipped, update the details with their database companies.
Who to contact:
- newspaper, magazine and newsletter subscriptions
- clubs, including sports teams or gym
- charities you support
- pet microchip databases.
Redirecting your mail and calls
The Royal Mail's redirection service diverts all mail to your new address.
You can keep this service for three, six or 12 months after moving, to avoid your post going astray. Prices start from £41.50 for three months. The service takes up to five working days to come into effect.
If you're changing your phone number, ask your telephone company if it can automatically inform callers of your new number for a few weeks following the switchover date.
Once you've moved, make sure you update your address on all your online shopping accounts.
When to start packing
The earlier, the better. Begin packing non-essentials at least two weeks before moving day.
If supplying your own packing cases and materials, order them in plenty of time. When you're packing, label boxes with the rooms they should go into in your new home.
As you clear your old home, dispose of any items you don't want to take with you.
See our page on packing for moving for a full rundown of how to make the process stress-free.
Choosing a removals company
If you decide to hire a removals company, the cost will be determined by the amount of goods being transported, the moving distance and the size of crew required.
Use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable moving company. We assess each company in person, and make credit, reference and administrative checks to ensure it’s reputable.
- Find out more: how to choose the best removals company
Preparing your old home for the new owner
It can be helpful to leave instructions on how to operate the boiler and alarm; the location of the meters, fuse box and stopcock; and any other useful information about the property.
You could either label all keys or leave them in the locks that they operate. Don't forget the keys for windows, sheds and garages.
It's a good idea to ask - or have it as part of your purchase agreement - that the person you're buying from does the same. You don't want to move in not knowing how to access areas of the property.
- Find out more: packing and preparing to move house
Hire a trader or head to a DIY shop?
If you come across issues in the new property that you can fix yourself, see our guide to the best DIY shops – we’ll show you where to get the best value for money, quality items and customer service.
If you'd rather hire a professional, our guide on finding a reputable trader offers tips on sourcing the best Which? Trusted Traders, including builders, plumbers, plasterers, locksmiths and more.
What do I need to do after I've moved?
If the price of the property you buy is over the stamp duty threshold for the area, you'll have to pay a stamp duty bill.
Property buyers in England and Northern Ireland have 14 days from the 'effective date' of the transaction (usually the date of completion) to pay their stamp duty bill. If you fail to do this on time, there's an automatic £100 fine. In Scotland and Wales, buyers have 30 days to make the payment for the equivalent land taxes.
Typically, your solicitor or conveyancer will handle the stamp duty return for you, but you are still responsible for making sure this is done on time.
You should also get a locksmith to change the locks so you have control over who can access the property.