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    Moving house checklist UK: who to tell, and when

    The Haevn team6 min readLast verified:

    Moving house in the UK means telling the same set of organisations, in three waves. Before the move: your energy supplier, Royal Mail, TV Licensing and the council. On moving day: meter readings and the stop tap. After the move: DVLA, HMRC, the electoral register and a GP. Most of these changes are free and done online.

    This checklist is written for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own process for some services, including driving licences and local rates. Where a step only applies in one nation, we say so.

    What should you sort in the weeks before you move?

    The weeks before a move are where most of the forgetting happens, because nothing is urgent yet. These are the steps with a lead time.

    Energy supplier. Tell your current supplier you are moving. Citizens Advice suggests giving at least 48 hours' notice, and more is better. Give them a forwarding address for the final bill. If you are on a fixed tariff, ask whether you can take it with you, as that avoids an exit fee.

    Post redirection. Royal Mail asks you to apply at least 5 working days before your move date so the redirection starts on time. You can choose 3, 6 or 12 months, and you can still apply up to 6 months after you have moved. You will need the names and dates of birth of everyone whose post is being redirected, plus both addresses and postcodes.

    TV Licensing. You can change the address on your TV licence up to three months before you move. If you will not be living in the new home straight away, you can tell TV Licensing it is empty.

    Council Tax. Tell the council you are leaving, and the council you are moving to if it is a different one. Woking Borough Council's form, for example, asks for your Council Tax account number, your current and new addresses, and your move date. Have those to hand before you start.

    Water. Tell your water company your move date, so the bill at the old address stops on the right day.

    What needs doing on moving day?

    Moving day is busy, so keep this part short and do it first.

    Meter readings at the old home. Take a final reading on the day you move out and photograph it. If there is a smart meter, leave the in-home display for the next occupant.

    Meter readings at the new home. Find the meters (there may be one for electricity and one for gas) and take a reading as soon as you can, so your first bill is accurate. If you do not know who supplies the new home, the Energy Saving Trust points to the Find My Supplier tool for gas and your electricity network operator's lookup for electricity.

    Prepayment meters. If the new home has a prepayment meter, contact the supplier before you top up. Otherwise you may pay for energy the previous occupants used.

    The stop tap. WaterSafe advises finding your internal stop tap, where the water supply comes into your home, because you may need to turn the water off in an emergency. Find it on day one, not on the day a pipe leaks.

    Who do you tell after you move?

    Some changes have to wait until you have actually moved. HMRC says so directly.

    DVLA: driving licence. Changing the address on your driving licence is free. If you apply online, DVLA says the new licence should arrive within a week, and you can keep driving while you wait.

    DVLA: vehicle log book (V5C). Updating the address on your log book is usually free, and the registered keeper can do it online for a new UK address. You will need the registration number and the log book reference. If the new log book has not arrived after 4 weeks, contact DVLA. If you pay vehicle tax by Direct Debit, update that too.

    HMRC. Wait until you have moved, then update your address through your personal tax account. The same change covers Child Benefit, Income Tax, National Insurance and State Pension.

    Electoral register. You need to register to vote again at your new address. GOV.UK says it usually takes about 5 minutes.

    A GP. In England, anyone can register with a GP surgery for free, and you do not need ID or proof of address. Most surgeries take registrations online, which takes about 15 minutes per person. Your old surgery is told automatically once you are registered with the new one. If you would rather keep your current surgery, tell them your new address and ask whether they can keep you on.

    Bins. Collection days and rules change from council to council. Check the new bin day on the council website in the first week. Our UK bin collection guide covers the basics.

    Everyone else. Your bank, insurers, employer, school, dentist, vet, and any subscriptions with a delivery address. These are quick, but there are a lot of them, which is why a shared list helps.

    What does each address change cost, and when do you do it?

    Who to tellCostHowWhen
    DVLA, driving licenceFreeOnline or by postAfter you move
    DVLA, log book (V5C)Usually freeOnline (registered keeper)After you move
    HMRCNo fee statedPersonal tax accountAfter you move
    Electoral registerNo fee statedGOV.UK, about 5 minutesAfter you move
    GP (England)FreeOnline at most surgeriesAfter you move
    TV LicensingNot statedOnlineUp to 3 months before
    Royal Mail redirectionCheck Royal MailOnlineAt least 5 working days before

    How do you keep a move in one place?

    A move is one long list that two or more people are working through at the same time. The risk is not that something is hard. It is that each person assumes the other one did it.

    In Haevn, keep the checklist in Lists, so whoever rings the council ticks it off and everyone can see. Put the move date, the redirection start and the final meter reading in Plan, the shared calendar. Then note where the stop tap, the meters and the fuse box are in House, with the new suppliers' details, so nobody has to guess later.

    Keeping the paperwork together helps too: see how to manage family paperwork and how to keep on top of household bills. If you are comparing apps for this kind of household admin, our family organiser apps guide sets out the options.

    Start your free 14-day trial

    14 days free, no card needed.

    Frequently asked questions

    How far in advance should I set up post redirection?

    Royal Mail asks you to apply at least 5 working days before your move date, so the redirection starts on time. You can choose 3, 6 or 12 months, and you can still apply up to 6 months after moving.

    Does it cost anything to change the address on my driving licence?

    No. DVLA says it does not cost anything to change your address. If you apply online, the new licence should arrive within a week, and you can keep driving while you wait.

    When should I tell HMRC that I have moved?

    After you have moved. HMRC asks you to wait until you have moved before telling it your new address. One update through your personal tax account covers Child Benefit, Income Tax, National Insurance and State Pension.

    Do I need proof of address to register with a GP?

    Not in England. The NHS says you do not need ID or proof of address to register with a GP surgery, and registering is free. Most surgeries let you register online.

    When should I take meter readings when moving house?

    Take a final reading at your old home on the day you move out, and a first reading at your new home as soon as you can. Photograph both, and give them to your old and new suppliers.

    Sources

    All checked 22 October 2026.

    Spotted something out of date? Email support@haevn.co.uk and we will correct it.

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