The ultimate guide to moving home

Moving home is one of the most stressful events you’ll experience in your life. 

With excitement, stress and hassle all part of the process, being organised will help in making the task easier, and the most of your patience.

There’s a heap of things you might need to consider when moving home, and in this ultimate guide we’ll cover the most important tasks to make your life a little easier through the process, and once you’ve moved in. 

Getting ready for your move

Getting on top of your admin at this stage is important. Being organised in confirming details with your services, knowing who will be helping you on the day, and being ready will remove some of the worry and stress of the day.

Not sure what to start packing first, start with the items you might already have stored away, such as out of season clothing or items you use infrequently.

About one month away from your move date, you should be:

• Finalise details with your removal company 

• Request a final council tax bill from your existing local authority 

• Notify your current broadband provider that you’re moving. If you’re taking your existing service with you, check they have coverage and that you’ll be able to stay with them. If you want to change, check with your existing provider that you’ll not be liable for any big charges and then arrange with a new provider. Note that most providers will require 14-30 days to activate broadband services so it is worth getting.

• You’ll need to cancel your existing water bill, and that requires you to inform your current provider when you’re planning to move and where you’ll be moving to. If you have a water meter you’ll probably be asked to provide a final meter reading on the day that you move out. Most water companies won’t let you cancel your water bill more than 28 days before you move, but give at least a week’s notice from your move date in case they decide to send someone out to take a final reading. 

• If you’re claiming any Benefits, you’ll need to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

• If you’re taking out a mortgage you’ll need to have your home insurance in place in order to complete, but if you don’t then make sure you have home insurance starting for the day on which you complete. Even if you don’t move in on that day, you become the legal owner. 

• If required and available apply for a temporary parking permit from your new Local Authority (generally it will be limited to one car per household) 

About two weeks before you move:

• Make sure to update your details for any subscriptions such as TV packages, Amazon Prime, food recipe boxes, as well as milk deliveries, cleaners, newspaper and magazine. 

• Update your children’s schools and clubs, gym memberships with your new home details. 

• Set-up a post redirect with your local Post Office to direct any post that gets sent to your old address will get forwarded to your new address. It is suggested that 6-12 months is a good amount of time to have this in place, just in case there’s items of your post that are only sent annually. The service requires a minimum of five days to set-up. Royal Mail redirection service

In the last week:

• Confirm with your removal company times, contact details, addresses and parking

• In the days leading up to your move, think about using the food in your freezer as this won’t travel well so it’s best to use it beforehand. Ensure that it is completely dry before moving. 

• Update your car insurance provider, as this could affect your premium and cover.

• Dismantle non-essential furniture and cabinets. Providing they can be reassembled, this will make them easier to move and less likely to get damaged. 

On the day of the move:

It’s the big day, one filled with emotion, but having planned well to this point you have reason to be calm. 

• Pack a box with the kettle, milk, coffee, tea, mugs, snacks, toilet paper, cutlery and lightbulbs. Make it the last thing you pack up so that it’s the first box out when you’re at the new property. 

• Have all important documents stored in a safe place, and accessible.

• Make sure any valuables or fragile items you want to keep with you, are put aside and not packed by the removals team.

• Ensure you have the contact details of your conveyancer, estate agent and removal company. 

• Gather keys to and arrange for the new owners of your home. Don’t forget those spares you may have given to neighbours. If you’re renting this won’t apply you’ll just return them to your letting agent or landlord.

• Check all the windows are secure and utilities are switched off.

• Take meter readings and photos of the readings to supply to the supplier of your old property so they can provide you with a final bill and close your account.

• Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged with spare batteries and a charger to hand.

You’re in, but the admin is not over:

On the day:

• Find the fuse box, boiler and thermostat.

• check all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms work

• If there’s a intruder alarm – consider changing the code, if it is maintained then contact the service provider to update them with your details

• Find your stopcock and check if you can turn it on and off. If you have a water leak, flood or are simply plumbing in new appliances this is an absolute must. 

Tip: start unpacking room by room, with the kitchen as the first place to focus on.

• Update your details with bank and savings account providers and credit cards, as they might use your address as part of security checks to verify your identity. 

• Update your details with any personal pensions and investment providers.

• If you are receiving a pension or other benefits you should inform the Department for Work and Pensions of your new address. This includes if you’re moving into a residential care home, even if temporary. 

• Update your details with any life insurance providers. You might also need to consider your policy limits if your mortgage has changed as a result of moving home.

• Inform your health and travel insurance providers. 

• Update details for your mobile phone billing and insurance if applicable.

• Apply for a full parking permit from your new local authority. 

• Change your address with the DVLA to update your driving licence, vehicle log book and any tax direct debits

• Provide your previous energy provider with the final meter readings to produce your final bill. Take meter readings and contact the existing energy provider to provide these to them. If you’re looking to switch your provider you’ll likely be unable to move to a new provider if you have a debt remaining on your account. 

• If you have pets, and they’re microchipped make sure to change your contact information. Pettrac will enable you to update the information stored.

• If you’ve moved into a new area: Register with a new doctor, veterinary surgery, dentist, opticians, in most cases the new service provider will inform your previous providers.

• The Electoral roll. You’ll need to register online with your new address, even if you’re already registered to vote. Register to vote

• Register with your new local authority for council tax, legally you’re required to do this within 21 days of having moved. Some local authorities will allow you to do this prior to the move, the timeframe will differ depending on the council. It’s worth checking your new local authorities “change of address” page where you should be able to complete the relevant details. If you’re moving in the same local authority you’ll be able to continue to use the same direct debit to pay your council tax. 

• If you’re moving out of or into a leasehold property with a management company, inform them once you’ve moved out or in. This should have been made clear as part of your conveyancing process when buying your new home.

• Inform the water provider of your new details. 

• Your TV Licence won’t be valid when you move into your new home. This can be done up to three months prior to your move. Update your TV Licence

• Update your employer with details of your new address – they should also update HMRC records but it is worth checking.

• Car breakdown services – this could impact your cover.

• Email/ message friends and family your new address details.

• Update your Store cards/ Loyalty cards

• You may want to consider changing the locks on the doors to your new home.

• Update your auto-fill on your computer and phone browsers. In addition if you have services like Amazon Prime or subscriptions make sure to update the delivery address on each platform.