Change of Address Checklist - Who to Inform When Moving House
When you move to a new house, you will need to change your address with your service providers and update your friends and family. Changing your address may seem like an obvious task, but it can get confusing when you need to think about who to tell during the chaos of moving. It is a task easily overlooked which is why we created this useful change of address checklist on who you need to inform.
Compare My Move work with a number of property and finance experts to create helpful guides that will aid you through the moving process. We've put together this fool-proof change of address checklist so you'll know exactly who to notify and what to do when moving home. From utility providers to your local GP, keep this checklist in mind when moving house.
1. Royal Mail
Don't forget to redirect your mail when you move house. This may seem obvious at first but the moving process can be very chaotic and little things get overlooked. You will be surprised at how many correspondences you get from various places, meaning there may be certain services you forget. The redirect will be temporary but it gives you the extra time you need to get organised.
Make sure your
information is protected and identity theft is prevented by getting your mail redirected
by Royal Mail. It takes around a week to process and you can apply to redirect your mail 6 months before or after your moving date. There may be a
small charge involved in the redirecting process, but it will be worth it if
you can avoid your documents falling into the wrong hands. The fee starts from around £33.99 for 3 months if the property is within the UK and £120.99 overseas. You can redirect your post for up to 12 months to your new address.
2. Insurance Companies
There will be a number of insurance companies you will need to contact after moving house. Some of these may include:
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- House insurance
- Car insurance
- Travel insurance
- Pet insurance
It's important to remember to update your details on your home and contents insurance, as your insurance premium is likely to change alongside your address. Your insurance provider will likely deem certain areas as riskier or safer than your old address, meaning your insurance costs will then reflect this. A change of address is the perfect time to research switching your home insurance provider, especially as you'll likely have an up-to-date inventory list to inform your contents insurance. Even if you see no change in insurance cost, it's vital they have an up-to-date address for bills and further contact.
Don't forget to update the information on your car insurance, car ownership
certificate and your driving license. We know moving is a busy time, but you
can do this online on the GOV.UK website or, if you have the time, visit your nearest Post Office to submit the application. Your car insurance company also needs to be informed of your
change of address, as most policies are based on location. If your area is
considered to be high risk, you may end up paying more. If it’s considered safer, you could end up getting a refund.
3. Utility Providers
Before you move, remember to take your final water, gas and electricity meter readings. Notify your suppliers before you move so you aren’t then billed with someone else’s usage. It can take around 48 hours to successfully update your energy provider of your new information. Check to see if you're at risk of being charged for ending early, however, as you could try to
It takes up to 48 hours for your energy provider to update your information, so make sure you do this well in advance of your move. Depending on the type of account you have, you may be charged for ending early, if this is the case you should check to see if they'll allow you to move the deal to your new property.
Moving house is also a good time to consider changing suppliers to get the best deals. Let your utility provider know your moving date around a month before, then provide them with your new address and final meter readings just before.
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4. The Electoral Roll
By updating your information on the electoral roll, you can ensure that you get to vote in local and national elections at your new address. Being registered at your new house will also help to improve your credit score as it helps lenders check your information.
5. Schools and Education
If you're moving house with children then you will also need to remember to update their new address with their school. Moving house can be stressful for everyone involved so it's important to highlight the move with their teachers as well as update their information.
Private schools and universities will also need to be updated on the change of address as you will need to pay the tuition fees.
6. The Local Authority
You must remember to inform the local authority that you’ve moved as you will need to register to pay council tax. Some people will wait until they get a letter from the local authority regarding their council tax, hoping they will get away with it for a few weeks, but it does get backdated and you’ll have to pay no matter what.
7. GP and Other Healthcare
You'll need to tell your GP, dentist, optician and any other medical professionals about your change of address so they can update your records. If you’re moving to a different catchment area, it will probably be easier to sign up for a new GP surgery, in which case you will need to inform them of a new address. Don't forget about your pets' healthcare either and make sure you update your information with the local vet.
8. The Bank
It’s very important that you inform your banks, building societies, insurance companies, pensions or any other businesses that deal with your finances so they can update their records. You don’t want any bank details to be sent to your old address. If your mortgage is with your current bank they should update all your records automatically but it’s still worth checking. You'll also want to cancel any direct debits that are no longer required.
9. Subscription Services
Remember to change the address for any recreational subscription services such as the gym, Netflix or magazine subscriptions. It's easy to forget to update the address related to these services, especially if you're on a rolling contract. Postal subscriptions will need to be updated too.
10. TV License
You will need to notify your TV licensing company about your change of address and the date that you’re moving to your new house. This will ensure that you are covered from the day you move in. You can change your details up to 3 months in advance of your moving date.
11. Household Services
Whether it's your phone company, gardener or window cleaner, any other household services you require will need to be updated. For example, you'll need to change broadband when moving home correctly. It's also important to consider other services you use when making this list, as you will need to update your details with your accountant, solicitor or even tenants.
Any information you deem as private or essential will need to be sent to your new home so make a detailed list before you move house.
12. Friends and Family
Don't forget to update friends and family. This may seem extremely obvious but, as previously stated, things can be easily forgotten during the chaos of moving house. Whoever you contact regularly should be notified. It would also be worth updating your employer at this stage as they will need to update your details on their system.
To learn more, read moving into a new home checklist.
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As much as changing address can be a proverbial pain in the backside, it is an unavoidable and essential part of moving house and moving house is an exciting time. We hope that this Change of Address Checklist will help you save time and stay organised. Also, take a look at our house removal costs guide so you know what to expect.
Remember to use Compare My Move to save time and money on your house move. Fill in a quick and easy form and get connected with up to 6 professional removal companies. We hope this checklist will help you inform the right people and establishments of your change of address, keeping everyone up-to-date and fully informed.
