The week you move is the week you have the least energy for admin, which is exactly why addresses get missed. Most homeowners remember the bank and the broadband, then spend months chasing a lost pension statement or a parking fine sent to the old house. If you want a reliable change of address checklist for the UK, start here.
Update 14 places within the first fortnight after completion, starting with the ones that carry legal or financial consequences: the DVLA, HMRC, your bank, your insurers and the electoral roll. The rest can follow, but an old address left on any of these can cost you money.
The 14 places to update
Government and legal
DVLA. Both your driving licence and your vehicle logbook (V5C) need the new address.
HMRC. Update your address for tax and any tax credits or Child Benefit claims. Missing letters from HMRC can mean penalties.
Electoral roll. Register at the new address through your council. It also affects your credit file.
Passport. Change the address in your passport record, which is free to update.
Council tax. Close the old account and set up the new one, so you are not billed twice.
Money
Bank and building society accounts. Update current accounts, savings and credit cards, including any joint accounts.
Mortgage lender. If you are moving or remortgaging, make sure the lender has the right correspondence address.
Pensions and investments. Pension providers send annual statements and tax documents, and old addresses are a common cause of “lost” pensions.
Credit reference agencies. Check your file shows the new address and no old links remain.
Home and daily life
Home and contents insurance. Your old policy may not move with you, and cover for the new address must start on completion day.
Utilities and broadband. Submit final meter readings, set up the new supplier and confirm the account closure.
TV licence. The licence is tied to an address and needs moving.
GP, dentist and NHS. Register with local practices and update your details.
Royal Mail. A redirection service helps catch stray post for a set period, and it is a safety net, not a replacement for updating each organisation.
Do not rely on Royal Mail redirection
Redirection is a safety net, and a poor substitute for updating your details. Some organisations will not honour redirected post, and some letters, such as bank cards or sensitive notices, may not be forwarded. Relying on it is the single most common reason homeowners think everything is sorted when it is not.
The documents you should carry across
A move is a good moment to gather the paperwork that belongs to the house. Keep your completion statement, title documents, searches, EPC, gas and electrical certificates, any building regulations sign-offs, guarantees and your insurance schedule together. Those papers are the property’s record, and they will be needed again when you sell or remortgage.
Remortgaging without moving
If you are remortgaging rather than moving, the address stays the same but the paperwork changes. Keep your new mortgage offer, product terms, the early repayment charge details and the end date of your deal alongside your house records.
Order of play: what to do and when
Timing helps. In the week before completion, book the removals, arrange the Royal Mail redirection, and take final meter readings on the day you hand over keys. On completion day, confirm your buildings and contents insurance has started, because your lender and the law expect the property to be covered from the moment you own it.
In the first week, update the DVLA, HMRC, your bank and your insurers, then register for council tax and the electoral roll. In weeks two and three, work through the rest of the list and check your credit file. Many homeowners find a single shared note, with each organisation and the date updated, saves repeat phone calls.
Mistakes that are costly to fix
Parking fines, speed camera notices and tax letters sent to an old address can carry penalties because the law holds you responsible for keeping details current. Out-of-date addresses on insurance or a mortgage can also create problems with claims or lender correspondence. Another trap is leaving the old house’s utility account open, which can leave you paying for a stranger’s energy use. Close each account with a final meter reading, and keep the confirmation email.
If you are letting out your previous home, or keeping it while you move, your insurance, mortgage terms and tax position can all change, so tell the right providers rather than assuming the details carry over.
What to do in the next 30 minutes
Copy the 14 items above into a note and tick off those already done.
Update the DVLA, HMRC and your bank first.
Set a calendar reminder for two weeks’ time to chase the rest.
Check your credit file for old addresses.
Photograph and save your key moving-day documents.
Save the checklist to Home+, along with your completion statement and certificates, so the next move starts with a head start.
FAQ
Who do I need to tell when I move house? At minimum, the DVLA, HMRC, your bank, insurers, pension providers, council and the electoral roll, plus utilities and your doctor.
How long should I keep Royal Mail redirection? Most people use it for at least a few months while organisations catch up.
Do I have to update my driving licence when I move? Yes, you are legally required to keep the address on your licence correct.
Should I tell my mortgage lender if I rent out the old house? Yes. Letting a property usually needs lender consent, and your insurance must match.
Useful reading: gov.uk’s guidance on telling government about a change of address and Royal Mail’s redirection service.
