Who to notify when moving house – checklist

Companies to notify when moving house

The big job is knowing which company to inform when you’re moving house and who needs providing with your new address. The short answer is pretty much any company, business or public body you’ve had contact with needs to be notified that you've moved house.

While many people communicate through text or email, your physical home address is still used as a key identifier, especially when making online orders. Having your address up to date is vital.

Moving house address change list

Public bodies

These are the most important ones to inform you're moving house as they can impact everything from your credit score to your ability to vote.

• Electoral roll: Having the correct address on the electoral roll allows you to vote. But did you know, the roll is also used for credit checks. Having outdated information here could impact your credit score. You can do this online or by post.
• Local authorities: This impacts your council tax. If you pay your council tax in a lump sum for the year, you might be due a refund if you move before the end of the year. The best way is to call them.
• Healthcare providers: Make sure you’re registered with your local GP and let your old GP know their services are not needed. It’s also worth doing the same for dentist and any other regular medical service you require. You can update your address through the NHS as well while some GPs offer a service called Patient Access, which allows you to do the same.
• Educational bodies: From colleges to schools and childcare providers, it’s vital you change your address so they have the right contact details. Simply call the provider to update address.
• DVLA: You legally need to update your driving licence and vehicle log book (V5C) with your new address. You can do this online or by post – but expect it to take around three weeks.
• HMRC: You can update details for Income Tax, National Insurance, Pension and benefits through the HMRC website.

Financial suppliers

The next step when identifying who to tell about your move is any financial bodies or institutions. These should cover:

• Banks: Anything from building societies and savings to current accounts and credit cards. Anywhere you’ve got money needs to have your most up to date address or you could end up having issues paying bills and direct debits.
• Loans: If you have any outstanding loans (including student loans), you need to inform them you are changing address.
• Pensions: Your state pension is handled through the HMRC website but you should also let any private pensions of your new address.
• Investments: This covers any shares, premium bonds, trusts and other financial investments.

Employer

It’s important that your employer has your most up to date address details so they can update the payroll records. If you’re making a long distance move, and you’re changing jobs, let your new employer know your new address asap so they can send a contract to you.

Insurance

Making sure insurance details are up to date with your new address is vital as it could impact your ability to make a claim. Your address can also impact your car insurance rates, especially if you’ve changed where you park your car from a garage or driveway to a public road.

• Vehicle Insurance: Let your car insurance provider know your change of circumstances and any information that might be vital to insurance claims.
• Home Insurance: Your home insurance is usually for your home – so when you change it, you either need to request it’s transferred or buy new home insurance. If you’re transferring you’ll probably need to get a new quote. You can also consider contents insurance during the move.
• Health insurance: Any health insurance plans you have should be updated with your new address, so you can be sent paper copies of your policy.
• Product insurance: If any items in your home have their own insurance - such as mobile phones, TV or white goods – you should update the details as this could impact any claims you make.  

Utility suppliers

You’ll want to be connected – whether to gas or your internet -when you move in. Getting connected to some of these can take time so updating your details early is key to getting connected.

• Gas and electricity
• Internet
• Phone
• TV licence: You can change your TV licence address online.

Pets

Your pets are often registered to your home address. This is important as if they get lost, whoever finds them will need to know where to take them. If you have a collar with an address on it, update that. You’ll also need to update:

• Chip: Add your new address to any chip they have. You should be able to do this through your chip provider’s website.
• Vets: Make sure both your old and new vets have the new address. Pets in new places often get lost, so it’s important you let your new vet know you’ve moved in, what your pet looks like and how they can contact you.
• Pet Insurance: Like all insurance, having up to date pet insurance details will mean you don’t risk your policy becoming invalid.

Clubs and subscriptions

If you’re a member of any clubs or associations, let them know so they can send your newsletters. This also applies to gyms and classes for you and your children.

If you subscribe to a magazine or have a food delivery service like Hello Fresh, make sure to update these addresses.

Online

There are a number of online services that use your address – whether as a delivery address or to verify you as the owner. It’s worth doing this right away for the following:

• Amazon: You can easily manage your address with Amazon but it might also be worth simply deleting your old ones so nothing accidently gets sent there.
• PayPal: Similar to Amazon, you can update your address details easily with PayPal.
• Google /Apple Pay
• eBay:
• Netflix and other streaming services: You need to update your Household details.
• Deliveroo / Just Eat: You don’t want your first night takeaway going to your old home.
• Uber: Make sure your new address is added so you don’t end up paying to get to your old house after you’ve had a few.

When do you need to change your address when moving

With each company you’re notifying of a new address, the timings are different. With utility suppliers, contact them around a month before your move. They have specialist teams to manage this process.

With your internet supplier, we suggest you let them know at least two weeks before hand to give them time to get your new supply sorted.

For your local council, you need to have told them you have moved within 21 days of being in your new home. This is so they can organise council tax.

Most of the other address changes can be done when you’re in, so add it to your moving day checklist.

How to change your address when moving

One of the easiest ways to change your address is using the Post Office. They can then redirect your mail from your old address to your new one. There is a fee for this depending on how long you want to keep the redirect in place. But if you have followed our advice above, then the redirect will only need to be in place for a month to pick up anyone you’ve not remembered.