Moving to a new house can be stressful, mainly because there is so much to do. Remembering to pack everything in boxes marked correctly and contacting a moving company are obvious things people remember. In addition, you have to remember to notify a lot of people. Since there are lots of people to notify, it is easy to forget some of them. To avoid things like lost mail, additional expenses and stress, we have compiled a list of organisations that should know about your move.
Your Landlord
You should start planning your move once you have notified your landlord if you rent. The reason is that you should give them notice that you are moving. The length of the notice will depend on your contract or lease agreement. It is usually one month but check with the contract and landlord to be sure and avoid misunderstandings.
Government Bodies
Since one of your primary details will change, i.e., your residence, you should inform several government bodies about the move. Contact the DVLA to change your vehicle registration and driving licence address. You should also contact the local council to update your tax details and the electoral commissions to be added to the electoral roll.
Anyone receiving a state pension or benefits should also update their details with the Department of Work and Pension.
Lastly, get in touch with the Royal Mail. Register your new address with them and ask about their mail redirection service. They will redirect all your mail to the new address.
Insurance Provider
It is best to let your contents insurance provider know about the move. Doing so is especially important if there will be some overlap between moving out and moving in where you may be required to leave either property unoccupied for extended periods.
You might also need additional insurance from the removal company, so check with them to see if you need it and whether they provide it. Getting your insurance sorted out beforehand is one of the best moving house tips everyone should follow. Ensuring everything is fine on that front will save you a lot of stress and potentially money.
Friends and Family
We all want our friends and family to visit us once settled. It is a good idea to tell them you are moving once the plan starts taking shape and after finding a suitable home.
Notifying them you are moving is also a good idea to be prepared just in case. While most home moves go ahead without issue, things occasionally go wrong. The house you wanted to move into might have a problem, or you may need to postpone the move for another reason.
Having a backup plan for where to stay in case something goes wrong and as you look for a solution is a good idea, too. You should also have a plan if the moving company does not come on time or if there is a delay on moving day.
Financial Institutions
Your bank, lenders and credit card providers also need to know your new address. The main reason is that they may use address API for validation in their verification processes and will reject any documents with addresses they do not recognise.
Utility Companies
Your broadband, phone, water, electric and gas suppliers also need to be notified about the change of residence. In many cases, they will switch their services to your new home. Some services can be transferred quickly, while others will take time. For example, setting everything up at your new place will take some time if you have a fibre broadband connection.
Moving services might not be possible, especially if you move to an area covered or served by different companies. In such cases, you should cancel the service(s), pay whatever is due, and talk to the companies to provide these services at your new residence.
Health Service Providers
Because you may have to wait for treatment after registering with a new GP, handling this as quickly as possible is best. Contact the local GP or doctor’s surgery and other specialists – dentists, opticians, etc. – to avoid potential delays.
Your Employer
Because they should always have the most accurate information about you in their records, also notify your employer about your move.
Moving houses is about more than just the move itself, as there are other things you need to do. This includes notifying relevant people, companies and government bodies about the move so they can update their records accordingly.
