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Moving home checklist
Who is this page for?
If you’re moving house and want to know what to do before, during and after the move, this page is for you. For more information on buying a house, check out our buying a house page.
Moving house checklist
Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, it’s easy to get lost in the tasks involved when moving house. Stay organised by keeping tabs on everything you need to remember, including:
- Before you go – Who do you need to contact and how to pack
- During the move – Final bills and moving day
- Once you’ve moved in – Check everything is in order and say hello to neighbours
These simple tips cover some of the main things you’ll need to think about when moving into your new home.
Who to notify
Before you move house, there are lots of people and companies you’ll need to contact. You may need to end a service – such as your energy supplier – or inform a government body of your new address.
Follow the checklist below to keep track of who you have and haven’t contacted.
Bills and insurance
When it comes to your current household bills, give your utility suppliers plenty of notice of your move. This includes contacting:
- Energy, gas and water providers – Let your utility suppliers know the exact date of your move. You will have to send a final meter reading on the day of your move.
- Insurance– If you have contents or building insurance, get in touch to see if you can transfer the policy to your new home or to set up a new one. You’ll also need to update car insurance details.
- TV licence – Update your address through the TV Licensing website to move your TV license over.
- Broadband supplier – Get in touch with your internet company to see if your current package is available in your new house.
Redirect post
The easiest way to move your post over to a new address is to use the Post Office’s redirection service. For a fee, they will redirect any mail from your current address to your new address over a three-, six- or 12-month period. This gives you plenty of time to update your address with your:
- Billers
- Bank
- Local council
- Subscription services
- Employer
You should also update your address on any websites you buy from regularly. You don’t want any parcels going to the wrong address.
Doctors and dentists
Don’t use this as an excuse not to go to the dentist. Make sure to change your healthcare provider if you’re moving to a new area. Once you have registered, contact your current provider to transfer your details over to your new provider. This includes your:
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Optician
- Vet
Finance providers
You will also need to inform any financial providers of your new address. This means contacting your:
- Bank – Your address is part of your security checks, so it’s important to keep this information correct.
- Pension provider – Whether you have a state or private pension, you will need to get in touch to change your address.
- Employer – Your employer will need to know your new address to update your contact details and payroll.
- Lender – If you’ve taken out a loan or credit card, inform the lender of your new address and moving date.
Government bodies
There are several government bodies you will need to inform of your move, including:
- Local council – Get in touch with your local council to inform them of your move and get your final council tax bill.
- DVLA – You will need to update your driver’s license with your new address. However, if you are hiring a van for the move, wait until after you’ve moved in.
- HMRC – HMRC usually contact you by post, so make sure to keep your information updated.
- Electoral Roll – Don’t lose your vote – re-register at your new address through the gov.uk website to be able to vote.
Telling your landlord
If you’re moving from a rented property, you’ll need to let your landlord know in advance to arrange the end of your tenancy.
Your tenancy agreement will list the amount of notice you need to give, but it’s usually at least 30 days.
The best way to give notice is by sending a formal letter, which includes:
- Date the letter was written
- Amount of notice given
- Date you’ll be leaving the property
It’s worth asking your landlord to confirm in writing too, so you have evidence of the notice agreement.
Moving home and insurance
When moving house, make sure there are no gaps in your home insurance cover.
If you already have an active insurance policy, ask about transferring it to your new home.
It’s important to tell your home insurer of your moving date, so you remain covered on both properties during your move.
If you only have one type of insurance on your property already (contents insurance for example) make sure you have both contents and building insurance on your new home (where necessary).
Before you move
Moving day can be exciting, but there’s plenty to remember. You will need to take meter readings, pack any last-minute items and shut off your utilities. Here are a few tips to help the day go easier:
- Have a clear-out – Sort through your items and sell or donate anything you don’t want to take to the new house.
- Start packing early – Try to do an hour of packing a day leading up to the move.
- Contact your removal company – Double check your booking and make sure there aren’t any limits on what you can and can't move.
- Check access – Make sure the removal van can access your property or are able to park on the road.
- Mark boxes by room – Either label or colour code each box by room to make unpacking easier.
- Mark fragile or heavy boxes – Whether you’re moving yourselves or hiring help, marking boxes that are delicate or heavy can help make sure nothing gets damaged.
Things to remember when you’re selling
Make sure the person you’re selling to has a smooth moving day by putting together a fact sheet to help them settle into the house. Things to include are:
- Where to find the meters
- How to work the central heating
- The codes for any alarms
- What each key is for (it might be helpful to label these)
- When the bins are collected
- Any relevant documents on your appliances, such as the warranty or user manual
You can also message your estate agent to ask the same from the people you bought the house from.
On the day
When it comes to your moving day, there are lots of things to consider before you can put your feet up and relax. Here are a few moving day tips to help the day run without a hitch:
- Find suitable care – If you have small children or pets, leave them with a family member or organise childcare for the day.
- Take the essentials – Have a box of supplies on hand such as a kettle, toiletries, chargers and cleaning supplies to use during the day.
- Clean up – Clean your house once all the boxes have been moved out, or make sure a cleaner has been organised.
- Do a final sweep of your home – Before you lock up your old house, do a final check to make sure utilities are off, doors and windows are locked up and you haven’t left anything behind. Check places like sheds, lofts and garages.
After you’ve moved
Once you’ve plugged in the kettle and had a cup of tea, make sure you’ve ticked off the below tasks as well.
- Checking the property – Check for any leaks or damages, or leftover items from the previous owners.
- Changing the locks – Book a locksmith to change your locks so you know you are the only one with keys to your new home.
- Turning on the utilities – Make sure everything is working as it should.
- Say ‘hello’ to your neighbours – Introduce yourself to your new neighbours.
- Unpack the essentials – Unpack bedding, bathroom supplies and a fresh change of clothes.
The content on this page is for reference and does not constitute finance advice.
For impartial financial advice, we recommend government bodies like the MoneyHelper.
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