Moving House Checklist UK — Your Complete Week by Week Guide (2026)
By BandBack Move | Updated October 2026 | 8 min read
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Moving house is consistently ranked as one of the most stressful life events in the UK — and it's not hard to see why. Between coordinating conveyancers, booking removals, switching utilities, redirecting post and a hundred other tasks, it's easy for things to fall through the cracks.
This week by week moving house checklist covers everything you need to do, in the right order, from the moment you accept an offer right through to your first night in your new home. Bookmark it, or better yet, get your personalised plan on BandBack Move — we'll build a checklist tailored to your exact move date.
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12+ Weeks Before You Move
12+ Weeks Out
- Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer as early as possible — good ones get booked up fast
- Get at least three quotes from removal companies — prices vary enormously
- Start decluttering — sell, donate or skip anything you don't want to move
- Check your current tenancy or mortgage for early exit clauses
- Notify your landlord if you're renting (check your notice period)
- Research council tax bands in your new area
- Check Ofcom's broadband checker for speeds at your new address
💡 Tip: Instruct your conveyancer before you need them. The UK conveyancing process averages 12-16 weeks — the earlier you start, the less likely you are to lose your buyer or seller.
8-12 Weeks Before You Move
8-12 Weeks Out
- Book your removal company — confirm date, get written confirmation and insurance details
- Get an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) if you're selling — legally required
- Order a gas safety certificate if you're a landlord moving a rented property
- Compare broadband deals for your new address (check Virgin Media or TalkTalk) — many require 2-4 weeks to activate
- Compare energy tariffs so you're ready to switch on moving day
- Start collecting packing materials — boxes, tape, bubble wrap
- Arrange storage if there's a gap between moving out and moving in
- Begin packing non-essential items (books, seasonal clothes, decorations)
- Notify your bank and key financial institutions of your upcoming address change
Not sure where you are in this timeline?
Your free plan works it out from your move date, so you only see what's due this week, with nothing missed.
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4-8 Weeks Before You Move
4-8 Weeks Out
- Set up Royal Mail post redirection — takes up to 5 working days to process
- Notify your employer, HMRC, DVLA, GP, dentist and optician of your new address
- Transfer your car insurance to your new address (your premium may change)
- Review home insurance for your new property — your free moving plan reminds you when to sort it
- Order a new TV licence if needed
- Book a skip or rubbish removal if you have bulky items to dispose of
- Confirm survey date with your surveyor
- Contact utility providers at your current address to give notice
💡 Tip: Royal Mail redirection costs from £45 (October 2026) for 3, 6 or 12 months. Check royalmail.com for current prices. It's worth doing even if you think you've updated everything — there's always something you'll miss.
1-4 Weeks Before You Move
1-4 Weeks Out
- Confirm exchange of contracts date with your solicitor
- Confirm completion date — once set, this is when you legally move
- Book time off work for moving day and at least one day either side
- Arrange childcare and pet care for moving day
- Pack everything except daily essentials
- Label all boxes by room — it saves hours on the other end
- Defrost the freezer 24-48 hours before moving day
- Prepare a "moving day essentials" box — kettle, mugs, phone charger, toilet roll, snacks
- Notify friends and family of your new address
- Take meter readings at your current property
Moving Day
Moving Day
- Take meter readings first thing at your current property
- Do a final walk-through — check lofts, garages, sheds, cupboards
- Hand over all keys to the estate agent or buyer
- Take meter readings at your new property as soon as you arrive
- Check the property thoroughly before the removal team leaves
- Locate your stop cock, fuse box and boiler — you'll need them
- Change the locks — you don't know how many keys are in circulation (find a local locksmith)
- Register with a local GP as soon as possible
After You Move
First 4 Weeks
- Update your driving licence with DVLA (£0 online, legally required)
- Update your vehicle log book (V5C)
- Register to vote at your new address (takes 5 minutes at gov.uk)
- Update your NHS records — register with a local GP if not already done
- Notify any subscriptions — Amazon, Netflix, magazines, deliveries
- Check your council tax band — it may be wrong, and you could be owed a refund
- Introduce yourself to neighbours
- Confirm broadband is working correctly — raise any issues within the first 14 days
- No broadband yet? Get temporary wifi from day one
💡 Did you know? Around 400,000 UK homes are in the wrong council tax band and are overpaying. You can challenge your council tax band for free directly with your local council.
The Things Most People Forget
Even the most organised movers miss things. Here are the tasks that most often get missed:
- Updating car insurance — driving with the wrong address on your policy can invalidate it
- Redirecting post — set this up before you move, not after
- Checking the broadband activation date — some providers need 2-4 weeks notice
- Changing the locks — previous owners may have given keys to cleaners, neighbours or tradespeople
- Registering to vote — this affects your credit score if you're not on the electoral roll
- Council tax setup — you need to inform your local council directly; it doesn't happen automatically
Make Your Move Easier with BandBack Move
This checklist covers the essentials, but every move is different. Your timeline, your property type, whether you're buying or renting, your broadband options — all of these affect what you need to do and when.
BandBack Move builds you a personalised week-by-week moving checklist in 60 seconds — completely free. Just answer a few quick questions about your move and we'll tell you exactly what to do and when, with trusted UK providers recommended at each stage.
Ready to Move Smarter?
Get your free personalised moving plan — built around your move date, your circumstances, your home.
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