The Complete Moving House Admin Checklist That Actually Covers Everything

Moving house generates enormous admin. Much of it has deadlines. Missing tasks costs money or causes problems.

Here's every administrative task, organised by when to do it.

This checklist focuses on practical admin tasks that prevent service interruptions, missed deadlines, and unnecessary fees during your move.

The Timeline Overview

8 weeks before: Start preparation, gather information 6 weeks before: Begin notifications, arrange services 4 weeks before: Handle utilities, financial updates 2 weeks before: Final notifications, address changes 1 week before: Verification, last-minute tasks Moving day: Essential tasks only After move: Completion and cleanup

Different moves have different timelines. Adjust this template to your situation.

8 Weeks Before Move

Early preparation makes everything else easier.

Research New Area

Understand your new location:

• Council tax band (check council website)
• Rubbish collection days (impacts moving day planning)
• Parking restrictions (for moving van)
• Local services (doctors, dentists, schools)

Time required: 1-2 hours, one sitting

Gather Current Information

Compile list of all:

• Utility providers and account numbers
• Insurance policies
• Subscriptions (delivery box, streaming, magazines)
• Memberships (gym, clubs, professional)
• Services tied to address (cleaner, gardener, regular deliveries)

Why now: Easier to find when you're not packing boxes.

Time required: 30-45 minutes

Notify Landlord (If Renting)

If leaving rental:

• Check notice period in tenancy agreement
• Provide written notice to landlord
• Request deposit return process
• Book end-of-tenancy cleaning if required
• Schedule checkout inspection

Critical: Many tenancies require 1-2 months notice. Check your contract.

Book Removal Company (If Using)

If you need professional movers:

• Get 3 quotes
• Check reviews
• Verify insurance coverage
• Book preferred company
• Confirm date in writing

Good removal companies book up 4-8 weeks in advance.

6 Weeks Before Move

Start notifying organizations and arranging services.

Arrange Utilities at New Address

Contact providers for:

Electricity and Gas:

• Find current supplier for new property
• Arrange switch or new account
• Set start date (day of move)
• Provide meter readings if possible

Water:

• Find water supplier for new area (usually regional monopoly)
• Set up account
• Provide start date

Internet/Broadband:

• Check what's available at new address
• Order service (installation can take 2-4 weeks)
• Schedule installation date (soon after move)
• Consider keeping old service active until new works

Time required: 1-2 hours total for all utilities

Update Electoral Roll

Register at new address:

• Visit gov.uk/register-to-vote
• Provide new address
• Provide move date

Remove from old address:

• Happens automatically when you register at new address

Why it matters:

• Required for credit applications
• Affects credit score
• Needed for jury duty, voting

Time required: 10 minutes

Notify Council Tax

New address:

• Contact new local council
• Provide move-in date
• Set up payment (usually direct debit)
• May need to pay upfront for first month

Old address:

• Contact old local council
• Provide move-out date
• Settle final bill
• Stop payment after final bill

Critical: You're liable for council tax from your move date, even if house is empty while you settle in.

Time required: 20-30 minutes per council

4 Weeks Before Move

Financial updates and more notifications.

Update Bank Accounts

For all bank accounts:

• Online banking: Update address
• Request new cards to be sent to new address after move date
• Update direct debit address if different from correspondence address

Consider timing:

• Some banks send new cards automatically when address changes
• Time this so cards arrive after you've moved

Time required: 15 minutes per bank

Update Credit Cards

For each credit card:

• Change billing address
• Consider setting new address active from move date
• Verify direct debits will continue

Time required: 10 minutes per card

Notify Insurance Providers

Update address for:

Home Insurance:

• Notify old address end date
• Set up new policy for new address (often required before exchange/move)
• Get quote 4 weeks ahead for best rates

Car Insurance:

• Provide new address
• Confirm if premium changes (often does)
• Update effective from move date

Life/Health Insurance:

• Update address for correspondence

Time required: 15-20 minutes per policy

Update Driving License

DVLA notification:

• Visit gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence
• Free online update
• Receive new license in 1-2 weeks

Or:

• Write new address on paper counterpart (if you still have one)

Critical: Legal requirement to update within 3 weeks of moving.

Time required: 5 minutes

Update Vehicle Registration

If you own a vehicle:

• Visit gov.uk/change-vehicle-details-registration-certificate
• Free online update
• Receive new V5C at new address

Critical: Legal requirement, must do within 4 weeks.

Time required: 10 minutes

3 Weeks Before Move

Subscription and service updates.

Redirect Mail

Royal Mail Redirection:

• Visit royalmail.com/redirection
• Choose 3, 6, or 12 month redirection
• Costs £36-85 depending on duration
• Set start date as move date
• Covers household or individuals

Worth it: Catches mail you forget to redirect.

Time required: 10 minutes to set up

Update Delivery Subscriptions

For regular deliveries:

• Milk delivery
• Newspaper delivery
• Meal kit subscriptions
• Regular grocery deliveries

Process:

• Cancel at old address (provide last delivery date)
• Set up at new address (provide first delivery date)

Time required: 5 minutes per subscription

Notify Employer

Provide to HR/payroll:

• New address
• Effective date
• Update emergency contact if phone changes

Time required: 5 minutes

Update GP Registration

At old surgery:

• Notify you're leaving
• Request medical records transfer

At new surgery:

• Register as new patient (can do after move)
• Provide new address
• Medical records will transfer automatically

Consider: If moving far, do this after move to ensure you're in catchment area.

Time required: 15 minutes per surgery

Update Dentist

If changing dentist:

• Notify current dentist of leaving
• Research NHS dentists in new area
• Register when you arrive (if accepting new patients)

If keeping same dentist: Update address for records

Time required: 10-15 minutes

2 Weeks Before Move

Final notifications and preparations.

Update Online Shopping Accounts

Major retailers:

• Amazon
• Supermarkets with regular orders
• Any stores with saved addresses

Process:

• Log in to each account
• Update default delivery address
• Consider setting new address to activate on move date

Time required: 15-20 minutes for all accounts

Notify Children's Schools

If children changing schools:

• Notify current school of leaving date
• Provide new school information
• Request records transfer
• Register at new school

If staying at same school:

• Update address with school office

Time required: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Update Pension Providers

For all pension schemes:

• Workplace pensions
• Private pensions
• State pension (via HMRC)

Update correspondence address

Time required: 10 minutes per provider

Update Memberships

Professional:

• Professional body memberships
• Industry associations
• Trade unions

Personal:

• Gym membership (cancel or transfer)
• Club memberships
• Library card

Time required: 5 minutes per membership

Meter Readings

Book for moving day:

• Old property: Final readings when you hand over keys
• New property: Initial readings when you receive keys

Take photos:

• Visual proof of readings
• Prevents billing disputes
• Date stamp shows when reading taken

Time required: 5 minutes per property on moving day

1 Week Before Move

Final verification and last-minute tasks.

Confirm All Arrangements

Verify:

• Removal company booked (if using)
• Van booked (if self-moving)
• Time and date confirmed
• Contact number for moving day

Time required: 10 minutes

Defrost Freezer

At old property:

• Use up frozen food or donate
• Defrost freezer 24-48 hours before move
• Clean and dry
• Prevents water damage in transit

Time required: Passive, but requires planning

Cancel Old Utilities

For old property:

• Set end date for all utilities
• Provide forwarding address for final bills
• Take final meter readings (moving day)

Don't cancel too early:

• Need electricity for cleaning
• Need water for final cleanup
• Keep active until you hand over keys

Time required: 15-20 minutes total

Pack Essentials Box

For immediate needs:

• Kettle, mugs, tea/coffee
• Basic toiletries
• Phone chargers
• Important documents
• Medications
• Change of clothes
• Basic tools

Label clearly: "OPEN FIRST"

Time required: 20 minutes

Moving Day

Essential tasks only. Everything else is already done.

Old Property - When Leaving

Before final walkthrough:

• Take final meter readings (photo evidence)
• Text/email readings to suppliers immediately
• Do final check of all rooms, cupboards, shed, garage
• Take photos of property condition

When handing over keys:

• Confirm meter readings with landlord/agent
• Get receipt for key handover
• Note time and date

New Property - When Arriving

Immediately on arrival:

• Take photos of property condition
• Take initial meter readings (photo evidence)
• Text/email readings to suppliers
• Test basics: lights, water, heating

If anything wrong:

• Document immediately
• Photo evidence
• Notify landlord/seller same day

Practical Tasks

Moving day priorities:

• Unpack essentials box first
• Set up beds
• Locate emergency shutoff valves (water, gas, electric)
• Check heating works
• Identify fuse box location

First Week After Move

Completion tasks and settling in.

Verify Utilities Working

Test all services:

• Electricity (all rooms)
• Gas (if applicable)
• Water (hot and cold)
• Heating
• Broadband (when installed)

Report issues immediately: First week is when problems typically appear.

Update HMRC

For tax purposes:

• Visit gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details
• Update address for:
  • Self-assessment
  • Child benefit
  • Tax credits
• Or call HMRC if preferred

Time required: 10-15 minutes

Update DWP (If Applicable)

If receiving benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Disability benefits

Notify immediately: Benefit payments may stop if address not updated.

Time required: 15 minutes

Update TV Licence

Process:

• Visit tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/change-address
• Provide new address
• Update payment details if needed
• License transfers to new address

Time required: 5 minutes

Complete Missing Notifications

Go through original list:

• Check each item updated
• Action any missed
• Verify confirmations received

First Month After Move

Final cleanup and verification.

Verify All Bills Updated

Check you're receiving bills at new address:

• Utilities
• Council tax
• Insurance
• Credit cards
• Bank statements

If not receiving: Contact provider to verify address updated.

Update Passport

Process:

• Not automatic - optional update
• Can update when renewing
• Or update via passport office (costs money)

Consider: Only necessary if you move frequently or travel often.

Update Wi-Fi Password

On new router:

• Change default password
• Update connected devices
• Set up network name

Time required: 15 minutes

Register with Local Services

Non-urgent but useful:

• Local library
• Local pharmacy
• Recycling centre (permit if required)
• Parking permits (if applicable)

The Master Checklist

Print this and tick off as you go.

8 Weeks Before

• Notify landlord (if renting)
• Research new area
• Gather current provider information
• Book removal company

6 Weeks Before

• Arrange electricity at new address
• Arrange gas at new address
• Arrange water at new address
• Arrange broadband at new address
• Update electoral roll
• Notify council tax (old address)
• Notify council tax (new address)

4 Weeks Before

• Update all bank accounts
• Update all credit cards
• Update home insurance
• Update car insurance
• Update driving license
• Update vehicle registration
• Update other insurance

3 Weeks Before

• Set up Royal Mail redirection
• Update delivery subscriptions
• Notify employer
• Update GP registration
• Update dentist

2 Weeks Before

• Update Amazon address
• Update online shopping accounts
• Notify schools
• Update pension providers
• Update memberships
• Plan meter readings

1 Week Before

• Confirm removal arrangements
• Defrost freezer
• Cancel old utilities (end date)
• Pack essentials box

Moving Day

• Final meter readings (old property)
• Photo evidence of readings
• Send readings to suppliers
• Property condition photos (old)
• Initial meter readings (new property)
• Send readings to suppliers
• Property condition photos (new)
• Test utilities at new property

First Week After

• Verify all utilities working
• Update HMRC
• Update DWP (if applicable)
• Update TV licence
• Complete any missed notifications

First Month After

• Verify all bills to new address
• Register with local services
• Update passport (optional)
• Update Wi-Fi password

Time Investment Summary

Pre-move admin: 5-8 hours total spread over 8 weeks Moving day tasks: 30-60 minutes Post-move admin: 2-3 hours over first month

Total: 8-12 hours of administrative tasks for typical move

Spread over 10 weeks, this is manageable.

What Happens If You Forget

Forgotten tasks cause:

• Missed bills (late fees)
• Service interruptions
• Legal issues (driving license, vehicle registration)
• Credit score impacts (missed electoral roll)
• Lost mail
• Utility account issues

Use the checklist. Print it. Don't rely on memory.

Digital Tools

Simple spreadsheet works:

• Copy checklist to spreadsheet
• Add completion dates
• Add notes and reference numbers
• Track all in one place

Calendar reminders:

• Set reminder for each deadline
• Include what needs doing
• Link to checklist item

No need for specialized moving apps. Checklist + calendar is sufficient.

Moving house is administratively complex. But it's not complicated if you have a complete checklist and follow it systematically.

Print the checklist. Start 8 weeks before. Tick off items as completed.

Boring. Thorough. Stress-free move.