Moving house: change of address checklist

There's lots to remember when you're moving home, and it's essential you let the relevant people know your new address. Here is what you need to do when you move.

Share this guide

A black family of three, an adult male and female with a young boy are packing boxes to move house. All of them are smiling and there is only a sofa left in the background, with multiple boxes in the foreground of the room

Moving house can be challenging in the best of circumstances. With so many things to remember or take care of, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that needs to be done. This is why making checklists can be helpful in ensuring you don't miss anything.

Personal checklist

Financial checklist

What insurance do you need for your new home?

It depends on whether you own or rent your property:

If you have bought a new property:

You may need buildings and contents cover . You may also want insurance to cover your mortgage payments if you are unable to work.

Building insurance (or buildings insurance) meets the cost of repairs (or even a full rebuild) if your home is damaged.

It usually covers the 'bricks and mortar', which refers to the structure of your home and external fixtures like pipes. It protects against damage from bad weather, fire or theft. It can also cover internal fixtures and fittings like bathrooms and kitchens, and outdoor structures like sheds.

If there’s been a lot of damage to your property and it’s unsafe to remain at home, your insurer will pay for you to stay somewhere else until it’s been repaired.

There are some exclusions with standard buildings insurance. Most policies don’t cover general wear and tear, loss or damage, if your property has been left empty for more than 30 days or more.

If you are renting a new property:

You should look at contents insurance to protect your belongings. Your landlord is responsible for getting buildings cover.

Home contents insurance protects all sorts of possessions. This could include furniture, electrical items, gadgets, clothing and cash.

You can protect against accidental damage, loss and even cover certain items outside of your home.

If you're unsure what cover is best for you, here is how to work out what home insurance you need .

Utilities checklist

Updated 20 April 2023
Water TV Licence
Gas Digital TV
Electricity Broadband
Landline Mobile Phone