The short answer
Moving day goes smoothly when two things are sorted in advance: the practical arrangements around the move itself (mail, pets, childcare, and knowing how your new home works), and telling everyone who holds your old address that you've moved. Neither is complicated, but both are easy to leave too late. Here's a timeline for the first, and a full checklist for the second.
Know your moving-day costs first
Removals, redirection, and admin fees are small next to stamp duty and legal fees, but they're worth budgeting for properly.
See the full list of buying costs →Two to three weeks before moving day
Arrange mail redirection
Set up Royal Mail's redirection service so post sent to your old address automatically reaches your new one. You can apply online, by post, or in person at a Post Office branch. Prices start from around £45 for 3, 6, or 12 months of cover, with concessionary rates if you receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and no charge at all for redirecting a child's mail under 16. Setting it up two to three weeks ahead gives it time to take effect right from completion day, so nothing important — a cheque, a renewal notice, a hospital appointment — goes missing in the gap.
Send change of address cards
Let family and friends know where you're moving to, ideally with enough notice that they update their own address books. If you're planning a housewarming, sending the new address as part of the invitation does double duty and saves a separate round of messages.
Settle up and cancel home delivery services
Give notice to anyone providing a regular service at your current address — milk and newspaper deliveries, your window cleaner, gardener, or any regular domestic help — and settle any outstanding bills before you go. It's a small thing, but it avoids an awkward invoice chasing you to your new address, or a service turning up at a house you no longer live in.
A few days before moving day
Arrange childcare and pet care for the day
Moving day is rarely a good one for young children or pets to be under your feet. Ask a relative or neighbour to take charge of them for the day, or book a babysitter or pet-sitter in advance. If pets are travelling with you, make sure you have secure, appropriately sized carriers — cardboard carrying boxes for cats and small pets are available cheaply from the RSPCA and most vets if you don't already own proper carriers.
Get up to speed on how your new home works
Before you arrive, it helps to know the basics of the property: how the central heating boiler and any burglar alarm operate, and where the fuse box and the stopcock (your main water shut-off valve) are located. Ask your solicitor to request that the seller leaves behind instructions, guarantees, and contracts for anything you'll need to operate — a genuinely useful ask that costs the seller nothing and saves you a frustrating first evening in a cold, alarm-beeping house.
On moving day itself
The full change of address checklist
Once you're in, work through this list — every organisation that holds your old address, grouped so you can tackle a category at a time rather than trying to remember them all at once. Use the button above to print just this checklist, without the rest of the article.
Money & finance
- Bank
- Building society
- Credit card companies
- Insurance companies (home, car, life, pet)
- Pension providers
- National Savings & Premium Bonds
- Hire purchase / finance companies
Utilities & home
- Electricity, gas and water suppliers
- Broadband, phone and mobile providers
- TV licence
- Rental companies (if you lease anything)
Government & official
- Royal Mail — set up redirection first
- DVLA — driving licence and vehicle log book (V5C), free to update online
- HMRC
- Local authority — council tax
- Electoral roll — register to vote at your new address
Health
- Doctor (GP)
- Dentist
- Optician
- Regular pharmacy or prescriptions
Work & education
- Your employer
- Schools and colleges
- Professional associations and trade unions
Memberships & subscriptions
- Book, magazine and subscription services
- Clubs and associations
- Motoring organisations (AA, RAC, etc.)
- Gym or leisure memberships
And of course — friends and relatives, especially anyone who still has your old address for birthdays, cards, or parcels.
Frequently asked questions
How do I redirect my mail when I move house?
Set up Royal Mail's redirection service, either online, by post, or in person at a Post Office branch. Prices start from around £45 for 3, 6 or 12 months of cover, with reduced rates if you receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and no charge for redirecting a child's mail under 16. It's worth setting up a week or two before you move so it's active from completion day.
When can I collect the keys on moving day?
Usually sometime after 12:30pm, though it depends entirely on when your solicitor confirms the completion funds have reached the seller's solicitor's bank. The estate agent can't release keys until they've had that confirmation, so exact timing varies and can occasionally slip into the afternoon if the money is delayed in the banking system.
Do I need to update the electoral roll when I move?
Yes, if you want to vote at your new address — registration doesn't move with you automatically. You can register at your new address for free at gov.uk, and it only takes a few minutes.
Is it free to update my driving licence address?
Yes. Updating the address on your driving licence and your vehicle's log book (V5C) through DVLA's online service is free, and you can keep driving while your new documents are on their way to you.
This guide is for general information. Prices, services and providers mentioned (such as Royal Mail redirection) can change — always check current terms directly with the provider before relying on them.