Moving house can feel like a monumental task, and you’ll no doubt be looking forward to that first cold glass of wine or hot coffee in your new kitchen once you have the keys. But once moving day is done and the first boxes have been unpacked, it’s crucial that you begin informing important people of your change of address as soon as possible.

From your bank to your meal box service, we’ve put together the ultimate change of address checklist so you know exactly who you need to tell when you move house.

Why you need a change of address checklist

In between packing up your belongings, juggling house sale admin, and potentially managing your house move with children, it can be easy to miss important tasks off your moving home to-do list. Having a change of address checklist ready to go means you don’t need to worry about missing any vital people, businesses, or services that will need to reach you in your new home.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, climbing up the property ladder, or moving to new rented accommodation, updating your address promptly after moving home will keep your letters and parcels flowing to the correct place, and ensure your personal information is kept safe and that you don’t get hit with any unwanted fines – such as for having the wrong address on your driving licence.

Who to notify when you move house: The ultimate checklist

Our easy-to-follow change of address checklist covers everyone you’ll need to inform about your house move. Keep this list handy so you can easily refer to it after moving day or completion day, and start ticking off each point as you go.

1. Government and legal agencies

Make sure to update these government agencies with your new address as soon as possible to ensure that important correspondence can reach you, and all your legal documentation is up to date.

• HMRC
• DVLA – to update your vehicle logbook(s) and driving licence. Refer to our article on changing your car address details after moving home to find out more
• DWP – if you receive benefits and/or a UK pension
• Local council – for council tax billing, and the electoral register so that you can vote

2. Financial institutions

Notifying these financial institutions about your change of address after moving house is essential in keeping your personal details and documents secure, and your money safe.

• Your bank and/or building society account(s)
• Credit card company(s)
• Loan/finance provider(s)
• Investment and pension services

3. Utility providers

To ensure a smooth transition into your new home with no interruption to your services, tell your utility providers that you’re changing your address ahead of moving day so that any necessary arrangements can be made, such as if broadband needs to be installed at your new property – a vital consideration if you work from home.

• Gas and electricity suppliers
• Water company
• TV, broadband and phone companies
• TV Licensing

4. Healthcare services

If you’re moving only a short distance from your new home and plan to stay with your current local healthcare providers, make sure you tell them you’ve moved home as soon as possible so your family’s details are up to date, and no letters containing potentially sensitive information will go astray. If you’ll need to change to new providers, make sure to let your previous ones know that you won’t need their services anymore so they can arrange for your records to be transferred.

• GP surgery
• Dentist
• Optician
• Private healthcare provider(s)

5. Work and education

Employers and education institutions all need to have your most up-to-date address on file to keep the lines of communication open, and to ensure a smooth application process if your child(ren) need to change schools after you’ve moved.

• Your employer – HR and payroll
• Your child’s school or childcare provider – if your child will be moving schools, you’ll need to provide evidence of your new address when applying to their new school
• Your university or college, if applicable

6. Insurance providers

It’s essential to notify your insurance providers that you’re moving house as failure to do so could invalidate your policy. Additionally, your new address may impact your insurance premium.

• Home and contents insurance
• Car insurance
• Life and/or health insurance
• Pet insurance

7. Subscription services and shopping

Whether you’re a keen online shopper or you have a recipe box subscription you can’t live without, update your address with the providers after you move to make sure your deliveries don’t end up on the wrong doorstep.

• Online retailers
• Delivery subscription services – magazines, meal kits, health and beauty supplies etc.
• Online streaming services – to ensure shared/family plans stay valid

8. Friends and family

You’ll be excited to show off your new home to friends and family once you’re settled in, but letting loved ones know that you’ve moved is useful in case anyone would like to send a new home card or housewarming gift – or just pop in for a quick cuppa and to help with the unpacking.

A group text or copy-and-paste message is typically sufficient to let everyone know your new address, but you might consider using the Royal Mail’s Redirection service to catch any stray correspondence until you’ve contacted everyone.

9. Other organisations

There may be many other organisations and businesses that will need your new address after you’ve moved, so take the time to think about:

• Clubs or memberships you’re part of
• Charities you donate to
• Loyalty and reward programmes you’re signed up to

How to update your address efficiently

With so many people and places to inform of your change of address after you’ve moved home, it can feel overwhelming to keep track. Here are our tips to update your new address efficiently.

• Use websites, online customer portals and apps to provide your new address details wherever possible – it’s often quicker and easier than doing it by phone.
• Make a spreadsheet for your change of address checklist to track who you’ve updated – and to store the contact details of those who you still need to tell.
• Pay for the Royal Mail Redirection service – to automatically forward all of your post and parcels to your new address for up to 12 months, giving you more time to update all of your details and prevent anything important from going missing in the meantime.

Following our change of address checklist when you move home will help your process to go more smoothly, and we have many more useful articles to check out - from our ultimate house viewing checklist and breakdown of the costs of moving house, to a guide to understanding house surveys and what happens on completion day.

If you’re in the early stages of your new house journey and are considering an energy-efficient new-build home for your next move, visit the Bellway website to discover the many great reasons to consider a brand-new home, and then explore your nearest developments to find your perfect property.