Everything you need to update, notify and sort legally and administratively when moving house in the UK — from council tax to TV licences to your GP.
The physical move gets all the attention, but the admin side of moving house — updating your address everywhere it matters — is what determines whether your first few weeks in a new home go smoothly or involve chasing missed post and locked-out accounts. Here's the complete list, organised by priority.
Your landlord (if renting) needs formal written notice according to your tenancy agreement — check the required notice period, often 1-2 months. Your removal company should be booked as early as possible, especially for end-of-month dates. If you're selling, your solicitor or conveyancer will need to coordinate exchange and completion dates with the buyer's side — this is largely out of your hands but worth staying in regular contact about.
Set up mail redirection at least two weeks before you move — it takes around 5 working days to activate and isn't instant. Redirection can be set up for individuals or the whole household, for periods from 1 month to 12 months. This is your safety net for anything you forget to update directly — but don't rely on it long-term, as it's a paid service that needs renewing.
Update your address with HMRC (affects tax records and any correspondence about tax codes, self-assessment, or child benefit). Update your driving licence address with the DVLA — this is a legal requirement, and driving with an out-of-date licence address can result in a fine. Re-register on the electoral roll at your new address. If you have a passport, you don't need to update it immediately for an address change, but do so at your next renewal.
Register for council tax with your new local authority as soon as you have a moving date — do this even before you move, as most councils allow you to set this up in advance. Cancel or arrange a final bill with your old council. Council tax bands vary between areas, so your new monthly amount may differ even for a similarly-sized property.
Arrange final readings and closing accounts for gas, electricity and water at your old address, and set up new accounts (or transfer existing ones, if using the same supplier) at the new address. Broadband transfers often need 1-2 weeks notice and may involve an engineer visit — book this as early as possible to avoid a gap in service. TV Licence address changes can be done online in a few minutes — don't forget this one, as it's easy to overlook.
Update your address with your bank, building society, and any credit card providers — many require this for security verification on calls. Update your car insurance — your address affects your premium, and driving with incorrect details can invalidate a claim. Arrange home insurance for your new property to start from your moving date — don't leave a gap, especially if the property will be empty even briefly between completion and moving in. If your old property will be empty before sale or after you've moved out, check whether your insurance covers an unoccupied property, as standard policies often don't.
Register with a new GP and dentist near your new home — you don't need to wait until you're unwell to do this, and registering early avoids delays if you need an appointment soon after moving. If you have children, contact the new local authority about school admissions as early as possible — popular schools can have waiting lists, and term-time moves need particular care to minimise disruption.
Update your address with any subscription services, online shopping accounts, and loyalty schemes — not essential, but avoids parcels going to the wrong address. Check post arriving at your new address for the previous occupants and arrange for it to be returned or redirected — this is common and usually resolves itself within a few weeks as senders update their records.
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