Moving house checklist for the UK: what to do and when

Six to eight weeks before you move

Once you have a likely moving date, start with the things that take longest to arrange. If you are buying, your completion date may not be fixed until exchange of contracts, so ask your mover how they handle date changes. If you rent, check your tenancy agreement for the notice you need to give your landlord.

Decluttering now saves time and money later, because a smaller load can mean a smaller van and a shorter day. Go room by room and decide what to sell, donate, recycle or take to the tip.

• Get quotes from removals firms or a man and van, with a room by room list or photos
• Ask what is included: loading, dismantling furniture, packing materials and insurance
• Give notice to your landlord if you rent, in writing
• Measure large furniture and check it will fit through doors at the new home
• Start clearing out the loft, garage and shed

Two to four weeks before

This is the time to confirm the booking and start packing things you will not need before the move, such as books, spare bedding, out-of-season clothes and ornaments. Use strong boxes, keep heavy items in small boxes, and label each box with the room it is going to and a short list of what is inside.

Check parking at both addresses. If there are permit bays, yellow lines or a narrow street, you may need to arrange a parking suspension or permit with the local council in advance, so the van can stop close to the door. Let your mover know about stairs, lifts or long walks from the van.

• Confirm the date, time and both addresses with your mover
• Arrange parking at both properties if needed
• Set up redirection of post with Royal Mail
• Tell your broadband and phone provider, as installs can take time
• Arrange care for children and pets on moving day
• Use up food in the freezer and run down cleaning products

Who to tell when you move house

Some address changes are legal requirements and others simply stop bills and letters going to the wrong place. Make a list and work through it in the weeks either side of the move. Some organisations, such as HMRC, ask you to wait until you have moved before telling them.

You must update the address on your driving licence with DVLA when you move, and you can be fined if you do not. If you are the registered keeper of a vehicle, you must also update the vehicle log book (V5C). Changing your address with DVLA online is free.

• Council tax: tell your old council you are leaving and your new council you are arriving. In Northern Ireland, homes pay rates instead.
• DVLA: driving licence and vehicle log book (V5C)
• Electoral register: register to vote again at your new address
• HMRC: once you have moved, for income tax, National Insurance, Child Benefit and State Pension
• Your GP surgery, dentist and optician
• Banks, pension providers, employer, insurers, TV Licensing and any benefits you receive
• Gas, electricity and water suppliers at both properties

Registering to vote and with a GP

Your entry on the electoral register does not move with you. GOV.UK says you need to register again with your new address, and it usually takes about five minutes online. In Northern Ireland there is a separate process run by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

If you stay in the same area, you can usually keep your GP and simply tell the surgery your new address. In England, if you move to a new area, the NHS says most people need to register with a surgery near their new home. You do not need ID or proof of address to register, and you can usually do it online or through the NHS App. Your records are transferred to the new surgery.

Insurance for your belongings during the move

Damage in transit is one of the main worries on moving day. Many removals firms carry goods in transit insurance, but cover levels, limits per item and exclusions vary, and items you packed yourself may be treated differently from items the mover packed. Ask each mover what their cover includes before you book.

Check your own home contents policy too. Some policies include cover for belongings while you move, sometimes only if a professional mover does the work. Tell your insurer your moving date and new address, and make sure buildings and contents cover at the new home starts on the right day. If you are buying with a mortgage, ask your lender when buildings insurance needs to start.

The week before and the day before

Finish packing everything except what you need for the last few days. Defrost the freezer at least a day before if it is going in the van. Dismantle anything your mover is not taking apart, and keep screws and fittings in labelled bags taped to the furniture.

Pack an essentials box or bag that travels with you, not in the van. Confirm key collection with your estate agent, landlord or solicitor, and ask what happens if completion runs late in the day.

• Phone chargers, medicines and glasses
• Passports, contracts, keys and important documents
• Kettle, mugs, tea or coffee, snacks and toilet roll
• Bedding and a change of clothes for the first night
• Basic tools, light bulbs and a torch
• Pet food, bowls and leads if you have pets

On moving day

Be ready when the movers arrive and walk them round so they know what is going and what is staying. Point out fragile items and anything heavy. At the old property, take meter readings for gas, electricity and water, with dated photos, and leave keys as agreed.

At the new home, take meter readings and photos again as soon as you arrive, and find the stopcock, the fuse box and the gas meter. Direct the movers to put boxes in the right rooms using your labels. Check for any damage before the movers leave, and note it in writing straight away, as movers may set a time limit for claims.

How AYS can help

On AYS you can book a single item collection at a fixed price, or describe your move and get free quotes from local removals and man and van pros who cover your postcode. You can book up to 90 days ahead, cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time, and pros can show insurance on their profile.

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