MOVING HOUSE? DON’T FORGET THESE EASY-TO-MISS TASKS
TL;DR: Moving house involves far more than packing boxes – there’s a mountain of admin to tackle. Prioritise updating government records and informing your bank and mortgage lender. Don’t overlook digital accounts like utilities and streaming services, and ensure schools are notified if you have children. On moving day, book broadband in advance, photograph your meter readings, and check your bin collection schedule. Missing these tasks can result in fines, denied insurance claims, and significant inconvenience.
So you’re moving house…
Exciting! Whether you’re stepping into your first Wain Homes property or moving elsewhere, your head’s probably full of paint colours, furniture arrangements, and where on earth the good scissors have disappeared to during packing. It’s safe to say there’s a whole mountain of tasks that everyone forgets about until they’re halfway through unpacking and suddenly realise they’ve got no broadband, their bank thinks they still live in their old home, and they’ve absolutely no idea when bin day is.
Don’t panic – we’ve rounded up essential tasks that people always overlook before settling in to create the house of their dreams. Think of this as your bookmarkable guide to what to do when moving into a new home without losing your mind or missing important deadlines.
The official stuff (aka: the-boring-but-vital-bits)
Let’s start with everything legal that you absolutely have to do – the kind of admin that feels tedious but could land you in hot water if you ignore it. Informing relevant services, especially government departments, of your move is incredibly important, as they rely on your address for tax records and legal documentation. Here’s what you need to know…
1. Update your driving licence
If you hold a driving licence, whether or not you own a car, you must inform the DVLA of your change of address as soon as possible after moving house. Ignore this, and you could receive a £1,000 fine. Not worth it. The quickest and easiest method is to do it online at gov.uk. If you’re feeling old-school, post off the paper form.
2. Sort your car insurance
Ring your car insurance provider as soon as you know your moving date. Your premium might go up or down depending on your new postcode (different areas have different theft/accident rates). Plus, if you don’t tell them and need to claim, they might refuse to pay out.
3. Tell the council tax people
Contact your new local council to register for council tax – you’ll need to do this pretty much immediately when moving in. Also, before moving, tell your old council you’re leaving so they don’t keep charging you. Most councils now let you do this online. Pro tip: check if you qualify for any discounts (single person, student, etc.) while you’re at it.
4. Register with HMRC
If you’re self-employed or usually get letters from HMRC about your tax, update your address online through your Government Gateway account. This process takes seconds, and saves a lot of hassle when your tax return arrives at your old place, and the new owners sadly bin it.
Healthcare & Wellbeing
Right, healthcare stuff. Not the most thrilling part of moving, we’ll admit, but definitely important. The secret is doing it all before you actually need a doctor’s appointment or run out of medication – because after all, your health comes first. This list should help for peace of mind…
5. Register with a new GP & dentist
This is one of those jobs everyone means to do and then forgets for six months. Find a local surgery/practice near your new home and make registering online or via the NHS website a priority. The sooner you do it, the less likely you are to be delayed when you actually need an appointment.
6. Update your prescriptions
If you’re on repeat prescriptions, tell your pharmacy you’re moving. If you’re switching to a new pharmacy near your new home, they’ll need to contact your GP to set up the transfer. Do this early – you don’t want to run out of vital medication because of admin faff.
7. Update pet microchip details
Got a cat or dog? You’re legally required to keep their microchip details up to date. Log in to whichever database your pet’s registered with (check your paperwork from when they were chipped) and update your address. Takes five minutes, costs nothing, and means you’ll be contacted if the little critters go walkabout in your new neighbourhood.
Financial
Keeping your financial details up to date might feel like a bore-chore, but it’s actually about protecting yourself. Banks use your address for security checks, and you certainly don’t want sensitive financial documents going to the wrong place.
8. Tell your bank(s)
Update your address with your bank, credit card providers, and any loan or mortgage companies. Most banks now let you do this through their app, which is dead handy. Do this before you move so new bank cards get sent to the correct address. Also, it’s worth checking if your home insurance and life insurance providers (if you’ve got them) need updating.
9. Update premium bonds and savings
If you’ve got Premium Bonds or NS&I savings, update your address with them too. You don’t want to miss out on prize notifications because they’re being posted to your old house. Do it online through the NS&I website – sorted in minutes.
Family & daily life
Got kids? Then you’ve got extra boxes to tick. Moving with family comes with its own set of considerations. Whether you’ve got school-age children, little ones in childcare, or simply want to ensure you’re registered correctly in your new community, these updates are essential.
10. Update schools and childcare
If you’re still in the local area, be sure to inform the school or nursery about your address change immediately. They need it for emergency contacts and official records. If your move means changing schools entirely, get the ball rolling early. School places can be competitive in some areas, so you’ll want to secure a spot.
11. Update electoral roll
Register to vote at your new address via gov.uk. This is important not just for voting (obviously) but also because it affects your credit score. Lenders check the electoral roll to verify your address when you apply for credit, so get yourself on there sharpish.
All things digital
Welcome to the modern world, where half your life exists online and needs updating one tedious account at a time. But the good news? You can knock most of these out in an evening if you’re armed with a cup of tea and a bit of patience.
12. Update key online accounts
Update your address on the following accounts; it feels endless, but these accounts ensure deliveries arrive, billing goes to the right place, and you don’t miss essential offers. It might even be a good opportunity to cancel any unwanted services you don’t really need anymore.
- Utility provider accounts.
- TV licensing.
- Amazon and other shopping sites.
- Streaming subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, and Audible.
- Loyalty cards and reward schemes.
Setting up your new home
The legal stuff is done, the vital address updates are ticked off – now for what actually matters. These are the tasks that keep your new home running smoothly. Miss any of these, and you’ll quickly regret it and find out why when those rubbish bins start piling up.
13. Book your broadband engineer early
This is a ‘what to do before moving into a new home’ tip that’ll save you weeks of frustration. Book your broadband installation at least two weeks before you move. Engineers get booked up fast, and living without Wi-Fi is basically like living in the Stone Age. Check what’s available at your new address first – not all providers work everywhere.
14. Take meter readings
On moving-in day, take photos of your gas, electric, and water meter readings ASAP. Then, send these to your energy suppliers with your move-in date. All suppliers allow you to do this so easily via apps. This ensures you’re only paying for the energy you’ve actually used (not for the previous owner’s Netflix binge sessions).
15. Set up a post redirect
Don’t miss any crucial mail during your house move – set up a postal redirect! Royal Mail’s redirection service is a brilliant safety net to take advantage of, automatically forwarding all your mail from your previous address to your new one for 3, 6, or 12 months. This offers you the assurance that all your essential documents will reach you while you’re busy setting up your new home. It typically costs £40-£85, depending on how long you need it, and can be arranged effortlessly via their website.
16. Register for bin collections
And lastly… bin day. Find out when your bins are due to be collected and what the recycling rules are in your new area. Check your new council’s website for all the info about collection days, what goes in which bin, and whether you need to request bins if it’s a new build. Nothing worse than missing your first bin day and being stuck with rubbish for another fortnight.
Moving made easier with Wain Homes
At Wain Homes, we understand that moving house is about more than just the bricks and mortar – it’s about all the life admin that comes with it too. That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way, from choosing your new home to settling in and getting sorted with all these essential tasks.
Ready to find your next home? Explore our range of quality new builds across the country, and when you’re ready to move, bookmark this guide – you’ll need it! Get in touch with our friendly team to discover what’s available and start your moving journey with all the practical support you need.
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