Moving house checklist: Conveyancer approved guide

Planning your move: Before exchange – Tips to research your new area, declutter, get quotes, and prepare early.

After exchange: Get ready for moving day – Final arrangements, bookings, packing, and insurance.

Completion day: Your moving day checklist – Step-by-step guide for a calm and organised moving day.

Change of address checklist – Who to notify after moving in, from utilities to banks, council tax, and more.

After completion: Final steps – Settle in, check utilities, unpack essentials, and introduce yourself to neighbours.

Download your free UK moving house checklist PDF – Printable version with full checklists, including moving day, bills, and personal reminders.

Moving house FAQs – Answers to common questions about moving, including when to start packing, typical costs, and what addresses to update.

Research your new area: If you’re moving to a new area, you should start looking into local amenities such as schools, GP surgeries, nurseries, and transport links. The Gov.uk site can help you find your local council and NHS website can help you find health services by postcode.

Let your conveyancer know your preferred dates: You can discuss your preferred completion date, but don’t book or pay for anything until contracts are exchanged.

Check work holiday availability: You may need a few days off around completion, so discuss this with your employer early.

Check your tenancy notice period: If you’re renting, confirm how much notice you need to give and aim to align your move-out date with or around your completion date. Remember, don’t hand in your notice until you have exchanged contracts, as up until then, your preferred completion date isn’t guaranteed.

Declutter before packing: Go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, donate, or sell. It’ll make packing easier later.

Start running down freezer foods: Freezers are tricky to move, so use up frozen food in the weeks before your move.

Get removal quotes: Compare prices and insurance cover, but don’t confirm a booking until your moving date is set.

Review your utility suppliers: Moving house is a great opportunity to shop around for better energy deals.

Get home insurance quotes: You’ll need buildings insurance in place when you exchange contracts, get quotes now so you can compare costs and policies.

Long-distance move tips: The tasks for moving long distance are often the same, however, there may be more you can do earlier on to help make your moving day as stress free as possible.

Eco-friendly moving tips: Moving home can have quite a high environmental impact, but there are ways you can reduce this.

Book your house removals company: Choose a reliable firm with good reviews and make sure you understand their insurance cover. Confirm timings, parking, and directions to your new home.

Arrange childcare or pet care: Confirm the moving date with friends, family or professionals to help avoid disappointment and keep moving day stress-free.

Confirm your home insurance: Check your policy covers your current property up to moving day and your belongings during the move.

Start packing and labelling boxes: Pack non-essentials first, label boxes clearly, and list which room they’re for. Keep a clear box spare to pack essentials you’ll need accessible on moving day. Find out more about how to pack for moving house.

Think about cleaning: You’ll want to complete a thorough clean of the property (especially if renting), so it’s a good idea to start now. You may need to rent a carpet cleaner, tackle the oven, or you may even want to hire a professional cleaner to help.

Book storage space: If you’re downsizing or waiting for renovations, consider short-term storage.

Collect spare keys: Contact any friends, family or neighbours that have spare keys so you can give them to the new owners.

Arrange mail forwarding: You can set up Royal Mail redirection ahead of your move to make sure you don’t miss important post.

Write a guide for your buyers: If you’re moving out of a home that you own it’s a nice idea to write a fact file/ guide for the new owners. This could include anything that you think could be useful, such as bin collection days, which keys unlock which doors and instruction manuals.

Ask your sellers for a guide: It can be hard to find your bearings in a new house, this can be made easier if your sellers leave a guide. This could cover essential information such as where the stopcock is, meter locations, bin collection days etc.

Check in with your conveyancer: Make sure all paperwork, funds, and completion details are in place.

Charge your phone: Make sure it’s fully charged as you’ll need to be in contact with your conveyancer and the estate agents throughout the day.

Stay in touch with your conveyancer: They’ll confirm when funds are transferred and when you can collect your keys.

Greet your house removal team: Give them instructions, guiding them through the process, showing them which boxes are fragile and what needs to be prioritised.

Take final meter readings: Record gas, electricity, and water readings at both properties (photos are best).

Keep your essentials box safe: You should have packed a separate box for essential items such as a phone charger, important documents, toiletries and a kettle. Keep this with you so you have all the essentials handy when you need them.

Arrange drop-off and pick up for your children and pets

Check all rooms before leaving: Look in cupboards and loft spaces for anything left behind.

Welcome note: Leave a short note or guide for your buyers - it’s a nice touch!

Lock up securely: Once everything’s out, close all windows and doors and hand over the keys.

Banks and building societies: Update your address for statements, direct debits and credit cards.

Mortgage provider or lender: Make sure correspondence goes to the right property.

Insurance companies: Notify your home, contents, car, life, and health insurers.

Pension and investment providers: Keep your financial records accurate and secure.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): It’s a legal requirement in the UK to update your address on your driving licence and vehicle logbook (V5C). You can do this easily online via the DVLA website.

Gas, electricity and water providers: Submit your final meter readings and set up new accounts at your new address - remember to take photos of your old and new home meters on moving day

Broadband, TV and phone: Transfer or cancel existing contracts and confirm your new installation date.

Council tax: Both your new and old local authorities need to know about the move. You can find more details on how to sort your council tax below.

TV licence: Update your address online - it takes just a few minutes.

GP, dentist and optician: Register with local practices to avoid delays in treatment.

Pharmacy services: Transfer your repeat prescriptions if needed.

Employer and pension provider: Update payroll and HR records.

Schools, colleges and childcare providers: Notify them to update emergency contact details.

Pet microchip company and vets: Update your pet’s registered address to comply with UK law.

Subscriptions and memberships: Check magazines, gyms, loyalty cards, and online shopping accounts.

Electoral register: Update your details so you can vote in future elections.

Check all utilities are working: Make sure your gas, electric and water are working – and if not, chase this up with the relevant provider immediately. This information should be on your Property Information Form, filled in by the seller, so try to keep a copy of this to hand.

Find the essentials: Locate your fuse box, boiler, heating controls and meters early on.

Take initial meter readings: Record readings on your first day so your account is accurate and up to date straight away.

Ensure the removal company has done its job and start unpacking: Look inside the van to make sure everything’s been picked up and glance over essential items to check or any damage. When you unpack, try doing it room by room, starting with essential spaces like the kitchen and main bedroom.

Review your copy of the seller’s fittings and contents form: Check that all items mentioned are in your new house. If anything’s missing or the property is in a poor state, contact your conveyancer for guidance.

Register for local services: Such as bins, parking permits, and council tax.

Introduce yourself to neighbours: A friendly hello can make a big difference in feeling settled.