Change of Address Checklist UK: Who to Tell When You Move

When you move house, prioritise the organisations that affect your legal records, finances, insurance and essential services. Update DVLA records, council tax, banks and insurers promptly, arrange mail redirection before the move, then work through utilities, healthcare, schools and everyday accounts.

Who should you tell first when you change address?

Start with records where an old address could affect important correspondence, identification, payments or cover.

• Local council — update council tax for the property you leave and the property you move into, and update your electoral registration separately where required.
• DVLA — update your driving licence and, if you are the registered keeper, your vehicle log book (V5C). If you pay vehicle tax by Direct Debit, that also needs updating.
• HMRC — update the address held for your tax records and any relevant services you use.
• Banks, building societies and credit-card providers — update each account rather than relying on redirected post.
• Insurers — tell your home, contents and vehicle insurers about the move and check when they need the new details.
• Employer and pension providers — update the address used for payroll, tax and pension correspondence.

Arrange Royal Mail redirection before moving

Royal Mail currently recommends applying about three weeks before you move and requires at least five working days to arrange a Redirection. Use it as a safety net while you update organisations directly, rather than as a replacement for changing your address with them.

Utilities and services to update around moving day

Keep a simple list of account numbers and contact details. Where your supplier asks for meter readings, photograph them so you have a dated record.

• Gas and electricity
• Water and sewerage
• Broadband, landline and mobile services
• TV Licence and paid TV services
• Home, contents and vehicle insurance

Everyday accounts people often forget

Once the essential records are covered, work through healthcare, education, memberships and delivery accounts. Checking recent bank and card statements can help you spot recurring services you might otherwise miss.

• GP, dentist and optician
• Schools, nurseries and childcare providers
• Breakdown cover and motoring memberships
• Online shops and saved delivery addresses
• Clubs, gyms, charities and subscriptions

A practical way to work through the checklist

1. Before moving day: arrange mail redirection, start updating essential records and tell providers that need advance notice.
2. Around the move: deal with property-related accounts, insurers and any meter readings requested by suppliers.
3. After moving: use redirected post and recent statements to catch accounts you missed, and update saved delivery addresses before ordering anything.

Planning the move as well as the paperwork

Address changes are easier when they are kept as a separate admin checklist rather than mixed into packing and moving-day jobs. Marley Moves regularly sees how quickly small unfinished tasks build up in the final week. If you are planning the physical move as well, you can request a moving quote once your dates and addresses are taking shape.