Moving house checklist UK: the complete 2026 guide
Moving goes wrong in small ways: broadband that isn't connected, a missed meter reading, a driving licence at the old address. This checklist puts every job in order, working back from your moving day.
Free calculator: Stamp duty calculator 2026: first-time buyers, movers and second homes
8 or more weeks before
- Set a moving budget (see the costs below).
- Buying? Instruct a conveyancing solicitor and book a survey. Conveyancing often takes 2–3 months from offer to completion.
- Renting? Give notice in the way your tenancy requires, and diary your check-out inspection.
- Get at least three removal quotes, or price up a van hire.
- Declutter: sell, donate or tip anything you don't want to pay to move.
4–6 weeks before
- Book the removal firm or van and confirm the date.
- Order broadband for the new address now. Installations often take two weeks or more.
- Tell your energy suppliers your moving date.
- Set up a Royal Mail redirection to catch anything you forget to update.
- Sort school places, pet care and time off work for moving day.
- Start packing rooms you rarely use, labelling every box with its room and contents.
1–2 weeks before
- Tell your council you're leaving, and register for council tax at the new address.
- Arrange parking (or a parking suspension) for the removal van at both ends.
- Cancel or move regular deliveries, the gym and the cleaner.
- Run down the freezer and defrost it 24–48 hours before you move.
- Pack a first-night box: kettle, mugs, tea, loo roll, phone chargers, bedding, medication, snacks, basic tools and bin bags.
- Renting: photograph the property for your deposit.
Moving day
- Take meter readings and dated photos at the old home (gas, electricity, water) and send them to your suppliers.
- Do a final check of the loft, cupboards, shed and garden.
- At the new home: take meter readings again, and find the stopcock, fuse box and gas shut-off valve.
- Make the beds first. You'll thank yourself at midnight.
Who to tell when you move
| Organisation | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| DVLA (driving licence + V5C log book) | It's free, and you can be fined up to £1,000 for not updating your licence address |
| Council tax (old and new council) | Avoid paying twice. Claim the single person discount if it applies |
| HMRC and your employer | Your tax code and P60s |
| Electoral register | Affects your credit score and your right to vote |
| Banks, cards and lenders | Fraud checks and statements |
| Insurers (home, car, life) | A wrong address can invalidate a policy |
| TV Licensing | Move or cancel your licence |
| GP and dentist | Register locally. Some practices have waiting lists |
| Pensions, Student Loans Company, DWP | Important letters and annual statements |
Typical moving costs
- Removals: from a few hundred pounds for a man-and-van to well over £1,000 for a full house move with packing.
- Conveyancing: often around £1,000–£2,000 including searches, for a purchase.
- Survey: a few hundred pounds, more for a full building survey.
- Stamp duty (England and NI): 0% up to £125,000 for home movers, and 0% up to £300,000 for first-time buyers on homes up to £500,000. Additional properties pay 5% extra. It must be paid within 14 days of completion. Work yours out.
- Renting: a deposit (capped at 5 weeks' rent in England for most tenancies), plus the first month's rent.
- Extras: boxes, cleaning, a mail redirect, takeaways, and furniture that doesn't fit.
Renting: protect your deposit
In England, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give you the details. At move-in, check the inventory carefully and photograph everything, especially marks and wear. It's your best evidence when you move out.
Jobs people forget
- Changing the locks after buying.
- Testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Checking your first energy bills use your move-in readings, not estimates.
- Updating delivery addresses on Amazon and other online shops.
UK House Move Checklist & Planner: £4
49 dated tasks, 30 organisations to tell, moving costs, a box inventory and meter readings, for Excel, Sheets and Notion.
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49 dated tasks, 30 organisations to tell, moving costs, a box inventory and meter readings, for Excel, Sheets and Notion.
See the template →
…or get all 9 paid templates for £15 in the UK Bundle (worth £48).
We make and sell this template (Tidy Life Templates).
FAQs
How far in advance should I start planning a house move?
About 8 weeks for a rental move, and as soon as your offer is accepted for a purchase. Conveyancing commonly takes 2–3 months.
Who do I need to tell when I move house in the UK?
At least: DVLA, your old and new councils, HMRC or your employer, the electoral register, banks and lenders, insurers, energy and water suppliers, TV Licensing, your GP and any benefits or pension providers.
Related calculators & guides
Stamp duty · Council tax bands · Split bills with housemates · Council tax discount
Handy for this
- Heavy-duty double-wall moving boxes (Amazon)
- Packing tape + tape gun dispenser (Amazon)
- Bubble wrap roll (Amazon)
- Fragile labels & marker pens (Amazon)
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