When moving house in the UK, your change of address checklist should cover six key areas: government and voting bodies, medical providers, financial and business accounts, utilities, vehicle authorities, and subscriptions or domestic services. Miss any of these and you risk missed mail, legal penalties, or disrupted services at the worst possible time.
We put our heads together and thought of the things we all have overlooked in past moves. After some spirited listing, we’ve broken down your change of address checklist into five categories.
Because let’s face it, a checklist is the most nebulous part of the removals process but has the most realistic effect. If you don’t update your address with some pertinent institutions, you could get serious headaches.
DOWNLOAD CHANGE OF ADDRESS CHECKLIST
TL;DR
- Government: Update your driving licence and V5C with the DVLA (you can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t), tell HMRC once, re-register to vote, and let DWP know if you claim benefits or the State Pension.
- Post: Set up Royal Mail redirection online before moving day so no post goes astray.
- Council tax: Close your account at the old address and register at the new one.
- Money: Update your bank, cards, pensions and student loan after moving day, not before, so documents don’t arrive at the wrong property.
- Work and school: Tell your employer’s payroll team and your children’s school or college.
- Utilities: Give gas, electricity and water providers at least 48 hours’ notice and take final meter readings, then move your broadband, mobile and TV licence.
- Insurance and health: Update your home, contents and car insurance, plus your GP, dentist and optician.
- Everyday accounts: Update delivery apps, memberships and your pet’s microchip record.
Table of Contents
How to change your address when moving house, step by step
A step-by-step guide to updating your address with the key organisations when moving house in the UK, in the order that makes the most practical sense.
Set up Royal Mail redirection
Do this first, before moving day. A Royal Mail redirection catches any post sent to your old address and forwards it to your new one while you work through the rest of this list. You can set it up online at the Post Office website.
Update your V5C with the DVLA
Notify the DVLA of your new address as soon as your move is confirmed. Send your V5C logbook and supporting documents to the DVLA following the instructions on gov.uk. Failing to do this can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
Notify HMRC
Tell HMRC your new address via the official gov.uk page. This single update cascades to your income tax record, National Insurance, tax credits, Government Gateway, and pension services.
Inform your bank and financial providers
Contact your bank, building society, and any credit card providers to update your address. Do this after moving day so that no correspondence is sent to your old address while you still have time to collect it.
Register to vote at your new address
Re-register on the electoral roll at your new address via gov.uk/register-to-vote. You must do this even if you were already registered, your old registration does not transfer automatically.
Update your NHS and GP records
Complete the NHS change of address form online and register with a GP local to your new address if you are moving out of your current practice’s catchment area. Also check and update your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) so any replacement is sent to the correct address.
Notify utilities and subscriptions
Give your gas, electricity, and water providers at least 48 hours’ notice before your move date so final bills are calculated correctly. Follow up with your broadband, TV licence, mobile provider, and any subscription services once you are settled in.
Check our change of address checklist
Who to Tell When You Move
The complete UK change-of-address list. Tick each one off as you update it — nothing slips through the cracks.
⚠️ Do these first — they’re legal obligations
- Council tax at both your old and new address. Council tax guide →
- DVLA — driving licence and V5C log book (it’s the law, and free).
- HMRC and the electoral roll.
One less thing to organise
While you handle the admin, let Fantastic Removals handle the move. Fixed, insured quotes for any UK move.
Get a moving quoteTicks are saved in this browser only. A Royal Mail redirect is a useful backstop while you work through the list.
Change of address checklist before moving house
Let anyone who’s sending you mail know that you’re moving house. One of the good things about updating your address is that you can go through the mail you receive and sort the valuable information from the unwanted junk. Sort the following things beforehand:
Redirect the Royal Mail
For this, you have to do an official Royal Mail redirection. The good news is you can do it online.
Notify clubs, schools, and colleges
Get in touch with any clubs you participate in and give them your new address, depending on the organisation, you may need to send an official change of address letter. If you have children, call the school or college administration and give official notice; the admin team will update their records from there.
Change your voting address
You can change your voting address online at the UK government website. Visit Register to vote on gov.uk to re-register at your new address. Learn how to reapply for the electoral roll later in our post.
Notify your council (council tax)
Get more information on paying your council taxes when moving house. Some of the most common things to take into consideration are council tax overlap, cancelling your existing council tax account, and checking whether you are eligible for any discounts at your new address.
Medical change of address checklist
Apart from your personal relationships, you’ll probably have to consider any health establishments you are affiliated with.
Inform NHS
Receiving correspondence from the NHS at your correct address matters, particularly for people with ongoing health needs. Any NHS letters arriving at your previous address could reveal personal information and potentially lead to fraud if that information reaches the wrong hands.
Complete the NHS change of address form once you have moved successfully. It takes only a few minutes and will save you a great deal of trouble. Any further correspondence will then go to the new address you have provided.
If you are moving outside your current GP’s catchment area, you will also need to register with a new GP practice. You can search for practices near your new address on the NHS website.
Pet insurance
Don’t forget to notify your pet insurance provider when changing your address.
Most pet insurance companies allow you to update your address details online. If your provider does not have a self-service form on their website, a quick phone call with your policy number to hand will do the job.
Check also:
Update your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card)
If you travel frequently or are planning to move overseas, make sure your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) is up to date and that any replacement card will be sent to your new address. The GHIC replaced the old EHIC for UK residents after Brexit and entitles you to state-funded healthcare in EU countries and Switzerland when you travel. You can apply for or renew your GHIC free of charge on the NHS website.
Notify these groups as well:
- Your dentist;
- Your physician;
- Your optician;
- Your paediatrician.
In this era of such exceptional communication, one email and a few separate send-to lists, you’ve got everyone who matters in the know.
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Business change of address checklist
Notify your employer
Send a notification to your employer that you’re moving home, and don’t forget to mention that your permanent address is changing. Any official documentation your employer wants to send to you should arrive at your up-to-date address.
The payroll process often requires an updated address, and there may be complications on moving day if your employer isn’t aware you’re relocating. Giving them advance notice means they can accommodate any absence without it becoming an issue. For smaller moves, a man and van service may be a more practical and affordable option than a full removals team.
Update prepaid and club cards
If you use club cards or prepaid cards for any stores you visit regularly, update your personal details and add your new address. This way, you won’t have any issues with deliveries arriving at your old property. Taking action on time will save you the hassle and cost of re-deliveries later.
Consider transferring your home insurance
Contact your home insurance provider and notify them of your change of address. Request more information about whether you can transfer your current home insurance onto the new property you’ll be living in.
Carys Frampton
Content Manager at Admiral
"Your insurer may be able to transfer your existing policy to a new home, but there may be differences depending on the situation. Much depends on the location. For example, if the area you move to has a higher crime rate, it could impact your premiums. Equally, if you’re moving to an area prone to flooding you may need to take out a special policy or confirm your policy has flood cover in place, like Admiral’s Home Insurance. Speak to your existing insurer before you move to make sure all the details are in place. If you plan to do renovation work, make sure you let your insurer know as not doing so could void your policy".Read more about home insurance when moving out.
There will be recalculations and changes in the premium tax rates based on the property size, age, location and other factors, but most insurance policies will remain worthwhile in the long run.
Moving out gives you a good opportunity to review your current home insurance contract. If better deals are available, you may want to consider switching, though read the cancellation terms carefully first, as an early exit fee may apply.
- Inform your HR department. This one is fairly obvious. In order for the accounting department to have all your documents straight, they’ll need to have the same address on all your documents and all other government places where your name is present. If not, there might be trouble for you.
- Inform HMRC. You’ll need to pay special attention to this one, as once you inform HMRC about your new address, they will update your personal record for income tax, national insurance, tax credits and benefits and services including Government Gateway and Pension services. You can do so on the official UK government website.
- Inform Banks. It’s crucial to inform all places involved with sending you money. On the official website of any bank is information on how you can inform them about your new address. This will update your financial accounts, debit and credit cards, etc.
The list can be a long one depending on your unique business needs, but it’s important to be thorough. Your personal finances leave little room for error.
Change of address checklist for utilities
The utilities update is the most exhausting part of the process, but also the most critical. After all, no one wants to arrive at their new home without electricity. Start here, and work through the full list:
Gas and electricity provider
Don’t leave this one for the last moment. Give at least 48 hours of prior notice so your provider can calculate your final bill accurately. If you miss this step, you risk being charged beyond your actual leaving date.
Landline
Landlines still offer some advantages, stable call quality and no battery dependency, so if you’re keeping one, make sure you notify your provider of your new address well before moving day.
Mobile phone
Updating your mobile provider isn’t strictly essential, but if you receive printed statements or promotional mailings, you’ll want them arriving at the right address. More importantly, if your mobile provider also supplies your home broadband, they absolutely need to know your new location, if there’s ever a hardware fault, they need to know where to send an engineer.
When doing international moving, talk to your mobile phone operator about your roaming details.
Also, consider the following:
- Water provider. Similar to the previous, give at least a day’s notice so they can calculate your final bill. You can notify most providers, including Thames Water, online.
- Satellite/Cable/Internet. A phone call will usually suffice, though you may need to visit a store or sign a new contract in person depending on your provider.
- TV licence change of address. One of the most easily forgotten tasks. You can update your TV licence online for free.
Yes, you’ll spend some time on hold, but changing your address with these companies is essential. Don’t put it off.
Check also:
Helpful iPhone Apps for Moving House
[Download] Ultimate House Moving Checklist
Change of address checklist regarding vehicles
V5C vehicle log book
Update your V5C vehicle logbook immediately after your change of address is officially confirmed. If you don’t do this on time and the DVLA remains uninformed, you can get a fine of up to £1,000.
Get your V5C log book, as well as all supporting documents, and send them to the DVLA. For more details on the process, follow the complete list of instructions on how to update your address on the V5C book.
Make sure you’re following the instructions properly without skipping any essential information. If you need to tax your vehicle within the next 4 weeks, you can do it online before sending your V5C to the DVLA. Be aware that the whole procedure can take up to 6 weeks to complete. If you need temporary storage for household items while you settle in, our long-term storage service is well worth considering.
If you’re moving home with your vehicle, contact the local authorities at your new address. Does the new place have free parking? Do you need a resident parking permit? These are just a few of the questions you’ll need to ask.
- DVLA;
- Insurance;
- Breakdown recovery;
- Vehicle registration.
It’ll take several phone calls for all of the above, but this is how you properly update your address after a move. And for the move itself, you’ll need to give us a ring. At our moving company, we want to do the heavy lifting so you can see to the rest of the details without any worries.
DOWNLOAD CHANGE OF ADDRESS CHECKLIST
Notify domestic service providers you’ve subscribed to
Regular cleaning service providers
If you’ve been using regular cleaning before your change of address, make sure you have notified your cleaning service provider of your move at least a week before you complete it.
Skipping this step may result in a cleaning team arriving at your old address on the date of the next session in the schedule. This will leave you with a small service charge for not notifying the company, leading to them wasting a lot of resources.
Make sure you also notify the following providers of the change of address you’re planning to make:
- Gardeners
- Window Cleaners
- Accountants
- Solicitors
- Handyman service providers
- Pest Control companies
- Builders/Maintenance
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Subscriptions: Notify any companies/institutions you’ve subscribed to
There are thousands of opportunities for customised subscriptions to products and services. As long as you have the money, you can subscribe to anything that will make your life easier and more comfortable and keep you updated on the most recent news.
Some of the most common things people subscribe to are companies and services such as:
- Library
- Sports Clubs
- Gym membership
- Amazon Subscribe & Save
- Custom cosmetics
- Snack and meals subscriptions
- Clothing subscriptions
- Kids and parents stuff
- Paperback magazine editions
If you want to continue receiving the products and services you’ve subscribed to, make sure you update your personal information with them and provide them with your new address.
Who else to notify of your change of address?
Re-apply for the electoral roll
If you want to vote in the UK but have recently changed your address, then you must submit another registration with the updated address details.
When doing so, you will have the opportunity to consider changing the way you vote. You may want to switch to voting by post or by proxy if you’ve previously only voted in person.
Mind that you can register anonymously if there is a reason for concerns about your own safety or the safety of your relatives. Reputable international removals companies can usually provide you with more information on re-applying for the electoral roll if you ask them.
Change your charity’s details
In case you have a charity registered with the same address you’re moving from, then you’ll have to notify HMRC about the changes.
If the charity is registered with the Charity Commission, a notification for the change of address must be sent to them as well. When updating the details of your charity, make sure to familiarise yourself with the complete list of requirements.
Inform friends and family
Quite logical, but the whole hassle around moving out sometimes makes people forget to inform their closest friends and family members of their move. Emailing them all at once is the most time-saving approach. If you can’t reach everyone by email, a phone call or a change of address card sent to their home does the job just as well.
The only way to have everyone around you updated is to personally take responsibility for telling them. Don’t assume they’ll find out through someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions about Changing Your Address When Moving
Below, you will read more about the most frequently asked questions we receive from people who are on the verge of changing their address after moving house. Feel free to contact us if you need any more specific information about your move, such as moving costs or how long it takes to move house.
How do I change my address in the UK?
Update your address with key organisations in roughly this order: set up a Royal Mail redirection first, then notify the DVLA, HMRC, your bank, your NHS GP, and the electoral register. Most of these can be done online via gov.uk. Inform your utilities providers at least 48 hours before you leave your old property.
Do I need to change my will if I move address?
Yes. Moving house is one of those life events that makes it worthwhile to review your will. You won’t necessarily need to amend it, but reviewing it is good practice. If you need to make major changes, you may have to create a new will entirely. Learn more about updating your will on gov.uk.
Do I need to change the address on my passport?
No. Your address does not appear in your passport, so you do not need to renew it when you move. When your passport eventually expires and you apply for a new one, your current address will be used at that point. You only need to renew your passport if you have changed your name, undergone significant changes to your appearance, or your current passport has expired.
Do I need to change my billing address when I move?
Yes. Your billing address must match the address registered to your credit or debit card for transactions to process correctly. Update it after moving day, not before, to avoid important documents being sent to your old address while you are still in the process of moving.
Can I transfer my house insurance?
In many cases, yes. Contact your home insurance provider as soon as your move is confirmed and ask whether your policy can be transferred to your new property. The premium will likely be recalculated based on the new property’s size, age, and location. Use the opportunity to check whether better deals are available, just read the cancellation terms carefully before switching, as an exit fee may apply. See the Business Change of Address Checklist section above for more detail.
Conclusion
Working through a complete change of address checklist when moving house gives you something no amount of optimism can replace: genuine peace of mind. Every organisation you notify is one fewer source of missed mail, a disrupted service, or an unexpected fine. The DVLA, HMRC, your bank, your GP, and the electoral register are the non-negotiables. Everything else follows once those are done.
If you haven’t already, download our checklist using the link above and tick things off as you go. And when it comes to the move itself, we’re here to handle the heavy lifting, take a look at our house removals service or get in touch for a quick quote. Also, don’t forget to carefully calculate your removal costs before booking.
Get your house move service with us!
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3746 0584
