Ultimate House Moving Checklist UK 2026

Moving house in the UK involves more admin than most people expect. It's not just packing boxes and booking a van — there's conveyancing, mortgage offers, council tax, utility transfers, school places, postal redirects and a dozen other things that fall through the cracks if you don't write them down. This checklist covers it all.

8 weeks before: the early admin

• Instruct a conveyancer or solicitor — Get quotes from at least three. Check they're on your mortgage lender's approved panel. Ask for a fixed-fee quote including disbursements so there are no surprises.
• Start the mortgage application — If you're getting a mortgage, start the application now. Lenders can take 4–6 weeks to issue an offer, and the survey needs to be booked too.
• Book a survey — Don't rely on the mortgage valuation survey — it's for the lender's benefit, not yours. Pay for a HomeBuyer Report or a full structural survey depending on the property's age and condition.
• Start decluttering — Every room. If you haven't used it in a year, sell it, donate it or bin it. Less to move means a cheaper, faster move.
• Research movers — Get quotes from at least three movers. Check they have Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance. Ask whether the quote is fixed or hourly.
• Check school places — If you have children, contact the local authority about school place transfers. Popular schools fill up fast, especially if you're moving mid-year.

6 weeks before: lock in the logistics

• Book your mover — Once you have a provisional moving date, book it. Good movers get booked up weeks in advance, especially on Fridays and in summer.
• Order packing supplies — Boxes (small for heavy items, large for light ones), packing paper, bubble wrap, strong tape, marker pens. Buy more boxes than you think you need — you'll use them.
• Start packing non-essentials — Anything you won't need in the next six weeks: loft, garage, spare room, guest bedroom, seasonal items.
• Notify your landlord (if renting) — Check your tenancy agreement for the notice period. Usually one or two months. Put it in writing.
• Arrange pet care for moving day — Cats and dogs do not enjoy moving day. Book them in with a friend, family member or kennels/cattery.
• Redirect your post — Set up Royal Mail redirection from your old address. It costs from £33 for three months and catches anything you forgot to update.

4 weeks before: the admin avalanche

• Notify utility providers — Gas, electricity, water. Give them your moving date and new address. Take meter readings on the day.
• Arrange broadband at the new property — Book installation now. Openreach appointments can take 2–3 weeks, and that's before you factor in the engineer visit.
• Contact the council — Council tax: cancel at your old address, register at the new one. Both need to be done — you can't just stop paying. Electoral roll: update your registration.
• Update your address with: — Bank, building society, credit cards, pension provider, insurance companies, DVLA (driving licence and V5C logbook), GP surgery, dentist, optician, vet, employer, HMRC, TV Licensing, subscriptions (Netflix, Amazon, magazines).
• Arrange buildings and contents insurance — Your new property needs buildings insurance from exchange of contracts (not completion). Your contents need covering from the day you move in.
• Check parking at both properties — Does the van need a parking suspension or permit? Some councils need a week's notice for suspensions. If you're in a Controlled Parking Zone, sort the permit for the new address too.

2 weeks before: the packing push

• Pack most rooms — Everything except what you need for the next two weeks. Label every box with the room and a brief contents list.
• Defrost the fridge and freezer — At least 24 hours before moving day. A leaking freezer in the van is a mess nobody needs.
• Dismantle large furniture — Beds, wardrobes, shelving units. Do this now, not on the morning of the move when you're already stressed.
• Confirm details with your mover — Final check on the inventory, access, parking, start time and any changes. If you've added or removed items since the original quote, tell them now.
• Arrange key collection — Confirm with the estate agent when you can collect the keys on completion day. It's usually midday, but it varies.
• Pack an overnight bag — Clothes, toiletries, phone charger, kettle, mugs, teabags, milk, snacks, toilet roll, basic tools. First night in a new house is always chaotic.

1 week before: final checks

• Finish packing — Everything except the absolute essentials (bedding, a change of clothes, toothbrush).
• Take meter readings — Gas, electricity and water. Photograph them as proof. Submit them to your suppliers.
• Deep clean the property — Or book a professional end-of-tenancy clean if you're renting. Your deposit depends on it.
• Check the van route — Are there any road closures, low bridges or weight restrictions between the two properties? Tell your mover if there are.
• Separate what's staying — If anything is included in the sale (curtains, white goods, fixtures), make sure it's clearly identified so it doesn't get loaded by mistake.
• Say goodbye to the neighbours — Leave your forwarding address with the new occupants for any stray post. It's also just decent.

Moving day

• Final walkthrough — Every room, every cupboard, every shelf. Check the loft, the shed, the garage. This is your last chance to spot anything left behind.
• Take final meter readings — Again. And photograph them.
• Lock up and hand over keys — To the estate agent or the new owner/tenant. Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
• Direct the mover at the new property — Tell them which room each box goes to. It saves you carrying boxes around later.
• Check for damage — As the mover unloads, check items against the inventory. If anything is damaged, note it immediately and photograph it.
• Test utilities — Gas, electric, water, heating. Make sure everything works. If it doesn't, contact the provider straight away.
• Make the bed first — You'll be exhausted by the evening. Having the bed made and the kettle on makes everything else feel manageable.

First week after moving

• Register with a new GP — Don't wait until you're ill. Register as soon as you can.
• Update the electoral roll — You need to be on it to get credit at your new address.
• Check council tax band — If you think your new property is in the wrong band, you can challenge it. Check the VOA website.
• Unpack room by room — Start with kitchen and bedrooms. Everything else can wait.
• Update your address everywhere you missed — There will be things you forgot. The Royal Mail redirect catches them.

If you need a man and van for your move, submit a free request with your postcodes, item list and access details. A verified mover reviews the specifics before quoting — no algorithms, no ballpark figures, just a quote based on the actual job.