Moving Home Checklist UK
A house move involves dozens of small tasks spread across several weeks, not just the day itself. This UK moving home checklist breaks everything down into three stages, so nothing gets missed: what to sort before you leave your old home, what to handle on moving day, and what to set up once you’re in your new home.
Table of Contents
Before You Move: Your Old Home Checklist
These are the tasks worth tackling in the weeks before you leave, rather than the night before.
A guide on how to change your address here.
Sort your address changes
Update your address with the council, HMRC, the DVLA, your GP and other key organisations. Our address updating service can handle this for a flat fee in one go.
Notify your bank, insurers and any subscriptions tied to your old address.
Submit final meter readings
Photograph your gas and electricity meters on your final day, and pass the readings to your supplier so your closing bill is accurate.
Book removals and storage
Compare quotes from removal firms several weeks ahead, particularly if you’re moving in a peak month.
Arrange short-term storage if there’s a gap between moving out and moving in.
Sort childcare and pet care for moving day
Line up childcare or pet care for the day itself. Removal vans, open doors and unfamiliar surroundings are easier to manage without little ones or pets underfoot.
Handle the small jobs early
A spring clean, a declutter, and cancelling subscriptions tied to your old address are all easier to manage a few weeks out rather than at the last minute.
Moving Day Checklist
This list covers the day itself, from your final walkthrough to picking up your new keys.
- Pack a separate essentials box: kettle, chargers, medication, toiletries and a change of clothes.
- Take final meter readings and photograph them before you hand back the keys.
- Do a final walkthrough of your old home, checking cupboards, lofts and outbuildings.
- Hand over your old keys and collect the keys for your new home.
- Check the utilities are working at your new home before the removal van leaves.
After You Move: Your New Home Checklist
Set up your utilities
- Register with a new energy supplier, or transfer your existing one across.
- Set up water and sewerage with your local supplier.
- Arrange broadband early. Installation can take two to three weeks, so book it before moving day if you can.
Register for council tax
Register with your new council for council tax, and check whether you’re due a single person discount if you live alone.
Register with local services
Register with a new GP, dentist and, if you need one, an optician close to your new address.
Check your finances
Update your bank, insurers and subscriptions with your new address, and check whether you’re due a stamp duty refund or discount using a calculator.
Update Everything in One Go With SlothMove
Most house moves involve updating your address with more than 100 organisations individually, which takes hours you probably don’t have. SlothMove does this for you, covering your council, HMRC, NHS, DVLA, energy and water suppliers and more, for a flat £30 fee, from a single form.
Here’s why over 75,000 people have chosen SlothMove:
- Save 14+ hours of admin time: based on data from over 75,000 completed moves.
- One form updates everything: DVLA, NHS, HMRC, councils, utilities, and more.
- Cheaper than mail redirection: Just £30 versus up to £87 for mail forwarding.
- Secure and trusted: ICO-registered, GDPR compliant, with 256-bit SSL encryption, backed by Taylor Rose MW (one of the UK’s largest conveyancing firms).
SlothMove handles your address updates along with all your other essential updates. No chasing, no forgotten providers, no stress.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best moving home checklist to use?
The most useful checklist splits tasks by phase: before you move, moving day, and after you move, so nothing gets missed. Ours covers all three stages, with links through to updating your address and setting up your new home in one place.
How many weeks before moving house should I start?
Most people start preparing 6 to 8 weeks before moving day, particularly for booking removals and comparing broadband providers. Smaller tasks, like meter readings and address updates, can wait until closer to the date.
What should I do first when moving house?
Your removal firm or van booking is usually the first practical step, since availability gets tight in peak months. After that, update your address and start packing the rooms you use least often.
Do I need to tell the council I'm moving?
Yes, you need to tell your new council so your bin collection, council tax and voter registration are set up correctly at your new address. You should also let your old council know so your account there is closed and finalised.
About SlothMove
SlothMove has helped over 75,000 UK residents update their address across government and private organisations since 2019. We are an ICO-registered data controller, GDPR compliant, and backed by Taylor Rose MW, one of the UK’s
leading conveyancing firms.