Moving house can be such a daunting prospect but the right packing supplies and a good checklist will make it so much easier. It doesn't matter whether you're moving across the town or across the country, getting your house in order with the right boxes and packing is absolutely vital. To give you a guide as to what you might need, here's a general guide. For a studio or one bedroom flat you'd be looking at 10-20 small boxes, 10-15 medium boxes and 5-10 large boxes. For a two- or three-bedroom house you'd be looking at 20-30 small boxes, 15-25 medium boxes and 10-15 large boxes plus a few wardrobe boxes for your clothes. Larger houses will probably need 40 or more boxes in various sizes. Don't forget the bubble wrap for the breakables, the strong tape and the packing paper.
Unfortunately you won't be able to update everyone with your new address by simply filling in a single Change of Address form.
You'll need to let your bank, your insurer, your employer, your various utility companies, your government agencies, your subscription services, your health providers etc know. Each one is likely to have their own preferred method of updating your address (some will take it online, some will want you to call them, some will want a form in the post, some will want you to go in person). To make this as easy as possible you might want to create a simple checklist or spreadsheet to track which accounts you've updated and which you still need to get round to. You can also use your password manager or browser autofill to quickly locate and update the address details for your online accounts. It's always worth checking each of the providers' preferred method of updating your details in advance so you can plan accordingly and not be caught out at the last minute.
This guide from Packing Solution has it all: who you need to inform, when to update your records and most crucially how to pack and protect your goods using the very best moving boxes and packing materials available in the UK.
Who do you notify when you move?
If you want a brief overview, your moving address checklist should include the following:
- Royal Mail
- Electricity, gas, water, waste, and internet providers
- Banks and credit card companies
- Mortgage, loan, and investment providers
- Home, contents, car, and health insurance companies
- Employer and payroll department
- DVLA
- HMRC and local council
- Electoral registration office
- National Insurance (HMRC), if applicable
- Schools and childcare providers
- Doctors, dentists, pharmacies, and veterinarians
- Subscription and delivery services
- Online shopping accounts
- Friends, family, and professional contacts
You don't have to do it all at once. You can break it down into smaller chunks such as packing room by room, getting the right boxes etc. A checklist (like this one) is very useful in keeping you on track and ensures you don't miss the bits that are important like bubble wrap and wardrobe boxes. If you plan ahead and get the right supplies from Packing Solution your move will go much more smoothly and your possessions will be much safer.
When should you change your address when you move?
Start your address related tasks 2-4 weeks prior to you moving.
If you've got less than two weeks to move then don't panic at all. You can absolutely still be on track. The priority is to deal with the absolute basics: arrange your mail to be forwarded, get your utilities sorted (either by transferring them or setting them up at your new home), and get your bank, your insurer and your employer all notified as soon as possible. Make a quick list of the accounts and services that are most likely to be problematic if you don't get them updated. Use the express, next day or same day services for your moving supplies and for the notifications to your various contacts. You could even ask a few friends to help you with the packing and the address changes. Having a notebook or a digital list is the key to staying on top of things even if you're moving at very short notice.
Start with the services you need to organise in advance (utilities, internet, insurance, mail forwarding, schools etc) as there's a risk of disruption if you don't get them sorted.
Then update your records to reflect where you live (your driving licence, your vehicle registration etc) in accordance with the rules of your area for electoral registration.
Royal Mail will let you submit a change of address prior to your move and they do recommend allowing time for the forwarding to take effect. It's essential that it's in place before moving day otherwise you could end up missing the mail.
Here's a simple timeline:
2–4 weeks before moving
Tell Royal Mail, your utility companies, your internet provider, your insurers, your bank, your employer and your school that you're moving.
Moving week
Finalise all your utility details and get your landlord (or property management company) on board. Likewise update your delivery services, your pharmacy and your moving/storage providers.
First 1–4 weeks after moving
Update the DVLA, vehicle registration, HMRC, electoral registration, government benefits, the doctors and the subscriptions.
After you're settled
Update your shopping accounts, your memberships, your apps, your professional contacts, your friends and your family.
Change of Address Checklist: What to Do Before You Move (UK Edition)
Getting these basics sorted before moving day means you can then concentrate on packing and settling in, minimises the risk of last minute panic and ensures your goods are properly protected during the move.
1. Submit Your Royal Mail Redirection
Make Royal Mail your number one priority.
Submitting a Change of Address request instructs Royal Mail to forward any eligible mail from your old address to your new address.
You can select the appropriate redirection period depending on your own circumstances.
Mail forwarding is a safety net rather than a replacement for updating each of the various organisations you use with your new address.
Royal Mail recommend that you let the people and businesses that send you mail know of your new address.
Some types of mail have different forwarding rules so you can't just assume that every letter, every document, every magazine and every parcel will be forwarded for ever.
2. Transfer Your Utilities
Before you move, get in contact with your utility companies to arrange for disconnection at your old address and to set up service at your new address. Make sure you have the correct boxes and packing materials in place so as not to be scrambling at the last minute.
Depending on where you live, the process can include:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Water and sewerage
- Waste and recycling
- Internet
- TV services
- Home phone
- Heating oil, where applicable
- Home security service
Wherever possible, try to overlap your services between the old and new addresses. That will help ensure a smooth transition and prevent any gaps in the essential services.
A few things make moving day harder than actually getting to your new house and realising you've got no electricity, no water and no internet (apart from that, the worst thing you could possibly imagine is realising you don't have the right boxes or enough packing tape). Plan for both the services and the packing supplies.
3. Update Your Insurance Providers
Contact your insurers prior to moving as your address can have an impact on your policy and your premiums.
Check:
- Car insurance
- Home and contents insurance
- Health insurance (NHS or private)
- Life insurance
- Pet insurance
- Additional personal liability insurance
Confirm the effective dates for your home and contents insurance to make sure your home and contents are properly covered through the transition period.
If you're moving to a new region or country, check whether your existing insurer will cover you there and whether you'll need to take out a new policy. For a move abroad, check what else is required (e.g. updating your passport details, securing any visas or permits you may need, international health/car/travel insurance etc). Some countries will require you to provide proof of insurance or other documentation for customs and residency so it's important to check all of that well in advance.
4. Tell Your Banks and Financial Institutions
Update the address on accounts (banks, building societies etc). Financial accounts.
This process may include:
- Current and savings accounts
- Credit cards
- Mortgage provider
- Vehicle finance provider
- Student Loans Company
- Brokerage and investment accounts
- Pension accounts
- Relevant savings or benefit accounts
- Payment services
- Financial adviser
Even if you're receiving your statements electronically your physical address is still important for identity verification, tax documents, replacement cards and fraud prevention.
5. Notify Your Employer and Payroll Department
Make sure your employer has your new home and postal address.
This keeps your payroll records, your benefits records, your tax documents and all your other employment related correspondence up to date.
This is particularly pertinent if your move takes you across national or regional borders as your new address could well impact your payroll and tax situation.
6. Contact Your Children's School or Childcare Provider
If you're moving with children then get in contact with their school, nursery or childcare provider as early as possible.
For a school change you'll need time to transfer records, check enrolment requirements, arrange transport and provide proof of your new address. The basic steps for transferring your child's school records and enrolling them at a new school are as follows:
- Tell your current school of your move and ask for a copy of your child's records or alternatively ask them to send the records directly to the new school. Some schools will have a formal process for withdrawal which will include a form to complete.
- Get in touch with the new school to find out about their enrolment procedure and what documents they will require (proof of address, birth certificate/passport, vaccination records etc).
- Submit the school application / enrolment form together with the requisite documents. Please let us know if attendance at the placement assessments/meetings is required.
- Arrange for transport (school transport, revised drop off/pick up etc) in particular if your new home is further from school.
- Follow up to confirm your child's place has been secured and find out when they can start attending.
- Let the new school be aware of any special needs, allergies or medication requirements so that appropriate support is in place from the very first day.
Taking those steps early will go a long way to ensuring a smooth transition for your child and will of course prevent any gaps in their education.
Also be sure to update your address and emergency contact details with all the sports teams, after school clubs and activities, tutors and any other organisations your children are involved with.
7. Confirm Your Address With Your Moving and Storage Providers
Please check both your old and new addresses against any company that's involved in the physical move.
Confirm:
- Collection address
- Delivery address
- Move date
- Contact phone number
- Access instructions
- Flat or unit number
- Entry codes, when applicable
If your new home isn't ready straight away then get temporary storage sorted in advance.
Portable storage can be of great use when your move-in, lease, renovation or completion dates don't quite match up.
What to Update During Moving Week
Moving week is also the perfect time to finish off packing, label your boxes properly and protect your fragile bits. It's also the ideal time to sort out any account changes that might cause you problems if you change your address too early.
Take Final Utility Readings
If your old home has accessible meters then take the final readings and consider taking some photos.
Keep your confirmation numbers and final bills until each of the old accounts has been fully closed.
Update Your Landlord, Property Manager, or Property Management Company
If you're renting then give your landlord or property manager a forwarding address for your deposit and final correspondence.
Homeowners should make sure that any relevant property or community management records are updated.
Update Pharmacy Information
If you're using a local pharmacy and you're moving outside of its area of service you'll need to transfer your prescriptions to a pharmacy in the area of your new home.
Keep your essential medicines with you rather than stashing them away in the moving box. Same with your important documents, your valuables and anything else you're going to need right at the point of arrival.
Check Your Saved Delivery Addresses
Your go-to shopping and food delivery apps can easily lead to post-move mistakes.
After you've moved, go back and check the saved addresses in all your most-used accounts so that a late night food order or an expensive online purchase doesn't end up going to your old address. To speed up the whole process and ensure you don't miss any accounts, use your password manager or browser autofill to locate all the accounts that have your old address saved and update them. Some password managers will even allow you to edit your profile details in one place which is obviously a huge time saver and helps to reduce the likelihood of errors.
Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify After Moving
Once you're settled in, your next job is to update the appropriate government and administrative records.
1. Update Your Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration
Contact the DVLA (or the relevant authority) to find out how quickly you're required to update your address.
Requirements will of course vary from region to region, country to country (particularly if you're moving internationally).
Moving to a new area or country may well require more than just an online address change. You may well need a new driving licence, new vehicle registration, new emissions inspection etc.
Don't go for a generic national timeline. Check what the specific requirements are for your new region or country.
2. Tell HMRC About Your New Address
Royal Mail Redirection is not in any way a substitute for notifying HMRC.
HMRC instructs taxpayers to update their addresses directly. You can generally do this by giving your new address when you submit your tax return via the relevant HMRC service or one of the other HMRC-approved methods.
HMRC note that address changes can take several weeks to process in full.
If you've moved to another area, check whether you also need to update your address with your former and new local tax authorities.
3. Update Your Electoral Registration
Moving can change your constituency, your polling station and in some cases your right to vote.
Update your electoral registration (electoral roll) if you've changed your address. If you've moved to a new area you'll need to register there.
Deadlines differ and in the UK registration deadlines are weeks before an election so don't wait until election day to register.
4. Update National Insurance Information if Applicable
You don't need to update the address on your NI record when you move.
However if you're receiving Universal Credit or other benefits, or using any of the relevant UK health or benefits services you must ensure your contact details are up to date.
Many agencies will allow you to update your address online. Different benefits will have different reporting requirements so be sure to follow the instructions.
If you're receiving any other government benefits (for example veterans' benefits or any other government benefits) you'll need to contact those agencies separately to update them.
5. Update Doctors and Healthcare Providers
Notify your:
- GP
- Dentist
- Specialists
- Therapist
- Optician
- Pharmacy
- Health insurance provider
If you're moving so far away that you're going to be changing providers you can ask for your medical records or find out how they can be transferred to your new practice. The first step is to call your current provider and find out what the process is for releasing or forwarding your records. You'll generally be required to complete a release form (this can be done in person or online) to authorise your provider to send your records to your new doctor. In some cases there will be an admin charge and/or there may be a delay in the process so it's worth getting this request in as early as possible so that your new doctor can access your records when you need them.
6. Don't Forget Your Pets
Pets have address records as well.
Update:
- Veterinarian
- Pet insurance company
- Microchip registry
- Relevant local pet registration
- Boarding or pet care provider
Keeping your pet's microchip details up to date is absolutely critical if your pet goes missing during the upheaval of a move.
7. Update Subscriptions, Memberships, and Online Accounts
Once you've sorted out the key records, go through your day-to-day accounts.
Examples include:
- Amazon and other online retailers
- Meal-kit subscriptions
- Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
- Membership organisations
- Gym memberships
- Professional associations
- Alumni organisations
- Loyalty programmes
- Streaming services that use your household location
- Mobile provider
- Delivery services
Update the "Home" address in your maps, ride-hailing and navigation apps. Please also remove your old address from any delivery services or online shopping accounts (particularly if you've previously ordered moving boxes and packing supplies online).
8. Tell Friends, Family, and Professional Contacts
Finally let the people you know know where you've moved.
A simple text, email, card or a digital 'moving announcement' will be sufficient to let your personal contacts know your new address.
You may also need to update your solicitor, your accountant, your financial adviser and so on.
Moving to a New Region or Country? Pay Extra Attention to These Updates
Moving to a new area or country will invariably involve a lot more admin than moving within the same region.
Prioritise:
- Driving licence
- Vehicle registration and V5C details
- Car insurance
- Electoral registration
- Regional taxes
- Healthcare arrangements (NHS or private insurance)
- Schools
- Professional licences, if applicable
- Employer/payroll information
- Utilities and local services
As the deadlines and requirements will vary from region to region/country, please check the rules in your new area as soon as you know where you're moving to.
Common Change-of-Address Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming Royal Mail Updates Everyone
It doesn't.
Mail forwarding helps to stop important mail from just vanishing as soon as it arrives, but you still do need to get around to updating the individual senders and the various government bodies.
Turning Utilities Off Too Soon
Leave sufficient overlap to allow for cleaning of the old home, the full range of inspections and to move without any undue difficulty.
Forgetting Your Billing Address
Once you've updated your credit/debit card, remember that the billing address associated with your online purchases may also need updating.
Forgetting Saved Shopping Addresses
Please make sure you remove your old address from all your regular shopping and delivery accounts otherwise packages could end up going to your old address.
Waiting Too Long to Verify Regional Requirements
DVLA, vehicle registration, electoral registration, tax and insurance rules are all different in each region or country.
A move into a different region or country may well merit its own admin checklist.
Printable Change of Address Checklist
Use this quick list to get you ready for the move and remember: having good strong boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper and strong tape all to hand will make the whole thing so much easier. Packing Solution have a range of excellent moving kits and supplies to suit every home and every budget.
Before Moving
- Royal Mail Redirection
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water and sewerage
- Internet and cable
- Waste and recycling
- Home security
- Home and contents insurance
- Car insurance
- Banks
- Credit cards
- Loans and mortgages
- Employer/payroll
- School/nursery or childcare
- Moving and storage company
During Moving Week
- Final utility readings
- Landlord/property manager
- Property management company
- Pharmacy
- Frequently used delivery services
- Shopping account default addresses
After Moving
- Driving licence
- Vehicle registration
- HMRC
- HMRC or local tax office
- Electoral registration, National Insurance, Universal Credit and any relevant UK health services (if applicable) are also important.
- Other government benefits
- Doctors and dentists
- Veterinarian
- Pet microchip registry
- Subscriptions
- Memberships
- Online shopping accounts
- Maps and ride-hailing apps
- Friends and family
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Your Address
When should I change my address when I'm moving?
Start your address work at least 2-4 weeks before you move. The key things to do are: Royal Mail redirection, utilities, internet, insurance, your bank, your employer and your children's schools. You'll also need to deal with any region-specific records (your driving licence and vehicle registration for instance) in accordance with the rules of the region you're moving to.
Does changing my address with Royal Mail inform everyone?
No. A Royal Mail Redirection request will simply forward your eligible mail. It will not in any way replace the need to get in touch with your banks, HMRC, your insurers, various government departments, your employer, your various subscription services and so on to let them all know that you've moved.
What address should we change first when we move?
Start with Royal Mail, your utilities, your insurance, your bank, your employer and any other organisations that provide you with a service of some kind (i.e. anything that will impact on your post, your money, your cover or your access to your new home).
What if the family members have different surnames?
Royal Mail have specific rules for individual and family change-of-addresses. If all the members of your household have the same surname and you're all moving as a family you can use one family form. If however some of the members of your household have different surnames or if not everyone at your address is moving then you will need to submit separate change-of-address forms for each individual or family group with a different surname. This ensures that everyone's mail is correctly forwarded and that there's no risk of it being mixed up. Check the Royal Mail instructions to confirm exactly what you need to do.
Do I need to inform HMRC that I've already changed my address with Royal Mail?
Yes you should notify HMRC directly. Royal Mail may well forward some of your correspondence but the service doesn't in any way replace the need to update your address with HMRC. Forwarding some of your correspondence and updating your address with Royal Mail is not in any way a substitute for updating your address with HMRC.
Should I change my address before or after I've moved?
It's account to account really. You'll generally want to sort out mail forwarding, utilities, insurance, internet, schools etc before you move. You'll also need to update your records (driving licence, vehicle registration etc) in accordance with the relevant requirements once you've moved.
Make Your Move Easier With a Packing Solution
Changing your address involves a long list of tasks, but packing up your belongings doesn’t have to be complicated if you use the right materials.
Packing Solution stocks a wide range of cardboard boxes, wardrobe boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and tape—everything you need for a successful move. With speedy UK delivery, you can pack at your pace and be certain your items are well protected, no matter your moving schedule.
Once you’ve sorted your paperwork and packed, you can focus on what matters most—settling into your new home with everything safe and organised.
Explore Packing Solution’s full range of moving boxes and packing supplies online to find what suits your move best.
