The ultimate moving house checklist

Moving house is one of the most expensive and demanding things most people do. Much of the process is out of your control: a sale can fall through, a chain can slip and the home you want can go to another buyer. What you can control is how well your own move is organised. This checklist sets out 16 steps to work through, from finalising contracts to settling into your new home.

In this guide:
1. Start planning early
2. Finalise your contracts
3. Confirm the date of your move
4. Look after your wellbeing
5. Give notice to your landlord if you rent
6. Tell people about your change of address
7. Register to vote at your new address
8. Find a GP, dentist and optician
9. Get quotes for removals
10. Declutter and pack
11. Clean your old home and your new one
12. Arrange self-storage if you need it
13. List where everything important is
14. Settle old bills and set up new ones
15. Change the locks
16. Make a priority list of spending

1. Start planning early

Begin with a budget. Removals cost £709 on average and conveyancing £2,182 on average (Which?, January 2026, citing Reallymoving). If you are selling as well as buying, add estate agent fees, an EPC and any mortgage exit charge; our guide to the cost of selling a house in the UK sets these out.

Build flexibility into your plans. Dates in a chain can move at short notice, so avoid booking anything you cannot change until contracts are exchanged. If anyone in your household is unwell, elderly or has mobility needs, plan the day around them and tell your removal firm in advance. Where someone in the chain needs to change the date for a good reason, agreeing a new date amicably is usually quicker than a dispute.

2. Finalise your contracts

By this stage you will have had an offer accepted and the legal work will be under way. Our guide to the process of buying a house in England and Wales explains each stage. Whichever solicitor or conveyancer you use, check the following.

• You do not have to use the estate agent’s recommended solicitor. An agent’s recommended firm can sometimes offer a good price, but you are free to choose your own. Compare quotes and reviews before you decide.
• Keep in regular contact with your solicitor and have your documents to hand. If your passport, birth certificate or other identity documents are stored elsewhere, retrieve them now. Delays in providing documents hold up the whole chain. Our guide to the documents you need to sell your house lists what sellers are asked for.
• If you are buying a leasehold property, check how long is left on the lease. Leases are often granted for 99 or 125 years. The shorter the remaining term, the lower the value of the property and the more it can cost to extend. Ask your solicitor how many years remain and allow extra time and money if the lease needs extending.
• If you are renting, read your tenancy agreement thoroughly. Tenants are often caught out by the small print on deposit returns. Check what condition and standard of cleanliness the property must be returned in.

3. Confirm the date of your move

• Once all enquiries have been answered and every party is satisfied, the solicitors can agree dates for exchange and completion.
• The completion date must suit the whole chain. Your solicitor will confirm it.
• Contact your removal company as early as possible to check it can move you on your preferred date.
• Confirm with your solicitor where your deposit must be sent and by when. You cannot exchange until the deposit has arrived. Late deposit money is a common cause of delay.
• Arrange a time with your solicitor to sign the contract and the transfer documents.
• Ask the estate agent where and when you can collect the keys.

Our guide to what happens on completion day explains the final stage in detail.

4. Look after your wellbeing

Once you know your moving date, getting organised early is the best way to keep stress manageable. Check in with yourself and encourage the rest of your household to do the same.

1. Start with the hardest part. Getting started is always the most difficult step. Pack the things you will not need before the move first, such as next season’s clothes and items you use once or twice a year. Mark each box in bold pen with the room it is going to in your new home. Each finished box gives you a sense of progress.
2. Take breaks outside. If your momentum starts to flag, take a short break and get some fresh air, even if only for a brisk walk. Decide on the next three small tasks to do when you return.
3. Sleep well and start early on moving day. Do what you can to get a good night’s sleep before the move. Wake early, because the small jobs that can only be done on the final day usually take longer than expected. Take each task calmly as the removal crew works around you.

If you are moving a long way from friends and family, plan how you will keep in touch, whether by phone, text message or video call.

5. Give notice to your landlord if you rent

Agree the check-out arrangements with your landlord or letting agent. The notice you must give depends on where you live.

• England: since 1 May 2026, most private tenancies are assured periodic tenancies with no fixed end date under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. You must give at least two months’ notice in writing (a letter, email or text message is acceptable) unless you and your landlord agree a shorter period in writing. You must pay rent until the notice period ends.
• Wales: under a periodic standard occupation contract you must give at least four weeks’ notice.
• Scotland: under a private residential tenancy you must give at least 28 days’ notice.

Keep a copy of your tenancy agreement and refer to it when you serve notice.

6. Tell people about your change of address

Give your gas and electricity suppliers at least 48 hours’ notice before you move out (Citizens Advice). Read the meters on the day you move out and on the day you take over your new home. Keep a record of both. In the new home, contact the existing supplier to say you have moved in; until you switch, you will be on its standard tariff.

Set up mail redirection as well, in case anything is missed. New occupants do not always pass post on. Royal Mail’s Redirection service runs for three, six or 12 months; it needs at least five working days to set up. Royal Mail suggests applying about three weeks before you move.

Household bills

• Electricity supplier
• Gas supplier
• Water supplier
• Broadband and phone line
• Council tax (see step 14)
• Service charges or shared maintenance costs if you live in a flat
• TV Licensing

Government departments

• Department for Work and Pensions, through the office or online account that deals with any benefits you receive.
• HM Revenue and Customs, through your personal tax account. This updates your records for Income Tax, National Insurance, Child Benefit and State Pension. HMRC asks you to wait until you have moved before telling it.
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), for your driving licence and your vehicle log book (V5C). Changing the address on your licence is free. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA.
• The electoral register (see step 7).

Personal finance and insurance

• Banks and savings providers
• Credit card companies
• Investment and pension providers
• Mobile phone providers
• Store loyalty schemes
• Car insurance and breakdown cover
• Home insurance
• Mobile phone, pet, life, health and dental insurance

Work and education

• Your employer
• Professional associations and alumni networks
• Schools, colleges and universities

7. Register to vote at your new address

You must register again whenever you change address. Once you have moved, go to gov.uk/register-to-vote. You will be asked for your name, date of birth, nationality and National Insurance number, although you can still register without the number. It takes about five minutes.

8. Find a GP, dentist and optician

If you are moving to a new area, register with a GP as soon as possible. You may not need a doctor now, but you will not want to waste time registering when you do. The links below are for England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own NHS websites.

• GP: compare local surgeries on services, access and opening hours, then register with the one that suits you. Many surgeries let you register online through the NHS website; the form takes about 15 minutes per person. If you are already registered with a GP, you can also change surgery through the NHS App.
• Dentist: you can contact any NHS dental practice to ask for an appointment. Practices may put you on a waiting list. The NHS website explains how to find an NHS dentist.
• Optician: use the NHS service to find an NHS sight test near your new home.

9. Get quotes for removals

Get at least three quotes. Do not choose on price and location alone: read reviews and compare the services offered. Packing and unpacking services usually cost extra. Ask about hidden costs such as charges for waiting when keys are released late and cancellation fees.

Consider a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR). BAR members must follow a code of practice approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and pass an external audit each year. Advance payments for home moves are protected by BAR’s Advance Payment Guarantee scheme. Unresolved complaints can go to a free, independent ombudsman.

Preparing for the removal crew

• Decide what you are taking before you ask for quotes.
• Check that your contents insurance covers valuable items such as televisions and appliances during the move.
• Book the date as far ahead as you can. Contact your remover at least a month in advance even if the date is not yet fixed. Keep them informed if it may change at short notice.
• Tell your remover about anything unusual, such as plants, fine art, antiques, wine or IT equipment, so they can make special arrangements.
• Do not pile everything into one room; it slows the crew down. Remove anything not going to your new home before moving day. If you cannot, label it clearly.
• Empty and defrost your freezer before the move. Freezers are not designed to be moved loaded. Neither the remover nor most insurers will accept responsibility for food that spoils.
• Take down light fittings yourself, as removal crews are not qualified to do so. Crews will take down curtains and take up carpets by arrangement but will not refit them.
• Discuss fitted or system furniture with your remover, who can dismantle it. Reassembly is usually quoted separately, if offered at all.
• Clothes can stay in drawers. Take out heavy items such as books, files and tools and pack them separately.
• Tell your remover about parking restrictions at either address and any access problems, such as narrow streets, overhanging trees, unmade roads, small doorways or spiral staircases. They can arrange parking permission if needed.
• If you are moving to a flat, tell your remover whether there is a lift and how big it is. Book priority use of the lift for the day if you can.
• Give the crew clear directions and, if they may arrive first, a spare key. A floor plan of your new home and colour-coded labels help everything reach the right room.
• Involve older children in the planning; it helps them understand the move. Consider asking a relative or friend to look after younger children and pets on the day.

10. Declutter and pack

A move is the ideal time to declutter. Removal firms price by the volume to be moved, so everything you get rid of beforehand saves money. Ask yourself whether you are prepared to pay to move each item. Picture how you want to live in your new home and keep only what belongs there. Do it before you move: sorting things out after you arrive tends to be put off. Boxes can stay unopened for years.

Set a date to start packing and give yourself enough time; it may take several days. Make a list of every room so nothing is missed. Label every box with its contents and destination room.

Packing supplies

• Boxes: use the original boxes for appliances if you still have them. Supermarkets will sometimes give boxes away.
• Packing paper, including recycled versions
• Bubble wrap or paper alternatives for fragile items
• Newspaper
• Soft blankets, towels and old T-shirts
• Packing tape and strong bin bags

Pack a separate box of essentials for arrival, including the kettle, a few cups, tea and a teaspoon.

Kitchen

• Appliances: clean and dry each one and remove small or fragile parts. Put the instruction manual in the box. Wrap fragile pieces in bubble wrap with a double layer of newspaper, heaviest part at the bottom.
• Plates: put a sheet of packing paper between each plate, wrap the stack and stand it upright in the box. Fill the gaps and mark the box “FRAGILE”.
• Glasses and cups: line the box with a soft cloth, wrap each item in paper and pack from the edges to the middle, filling the gaps.
• Cutlery and utensils: sort into bundles, wrap in a cloth, tape and use to fill gaps in other boxes.
• Pots and pans: stack them; wrap glass lids separately.
• Food: throw out anything past its date, give usable food you do not want to a local food bank and carry the rest in shopping bags.

Bedrooms

• Clothes: leave clothes on their hangers and cover them in bin bags. Take whole drawers out with their contents and wrap them.
• Shoes: wrap each shoe in packing paper rather than newspaper, which can stain. Stuff the toes to keep their shape. Keep pairs together.
• Mattress: make sure it is completely dry and put it in a mattress bag or wrap it.
• Bed frame: dismantle it, tape the parts together and tape a bag of screws to the frame. Photograph each stage so you can reassemble it.
• Linen, bedding and curtains: bag each separately and pack the bags in paper-lined boxes.
• Lamps: remove the shade and bulb and wrap the base.

Living and dining rooms

• Television: put all cables and remote controls in one bag. Use the original box if you have it; otherwise use a large box lined with a blanket.
• Sofa and furniture: cover surfaces with paper, bubble wrap or blankets. If you take the sofa apart, tape the bag of fittings inside the frame.
• Tables and chairs: dismantle what you can, label the bags of screws and photograph the item first.
• Pictures: wrap each frame well and stand the frames on a soft cloth in the box.
• Rugs: roll them, tape them and wrap them in a blanket or stretch wrap.
• Books: pack them flat in a newspaper-lined box. Leave space at the top and do not overfill.

Bathroom

• Toiletries: pack them in plastic tubs in case of leaks and tape the lids shut.
• Mirrors: place each in a cloth-lined box of a similar size, cover with another cloth and mark the box “FRAGILE”.

11. Clean your old home and your new one

If you are leaving a rented home, a thorough clean protects your deposit. Check your tenancy agreement: some require a professional end-of-tenancy clean. Failing to meet the cleaning requirements is likely to lead to deductions. An end-of-tenancy clean concentrates on deep cleaning, such as appliances and limescale. Book it in good time and have everything packed before the cleaners arrive. Otherwise hard-to-reach areas will be missed. Use the inventory from when you moved in as your standard; the property should be at least as clean as it was then.

Even if you are not renting, cleaning before your furniture goes in is far easier than cleaning round it later. Clean your old home once the boxes have gone.

You will need

• A long-handled duster and microfibre cloths
• A vacuum cleaner
• A mop, bucket and floor cleaner for hard floors
• Disinfectant, bleach, bathroom cleaner and limescale remover
• A sponge, a scourer and rubber gloves

Work room by room and from top to bottom. Start with the corners of the ceiling, light fittings and extractor fans, then work down. Clean and disinfect all surfaces, including inside and outside cupboards. Move beds, sofas and chests of drawers to clean beneath them. Clean the oven, fridge, freezer and microwave thoroughly. Look for limescale and mould in the kitchen and bathroom. Finish by vacuuming throughout and mopping hard floors.

Your new home should have been cleaned before you arrive, but this does not always happen. If you are renting, ask the landlord or letting agent to send a cleaner. If you have bought the property, clean it yourself before you unpack.

12. Arrange self-storage if you need it

Storage can hold bulky items you plan to sell or have no room for yet. Choose a facility near your new home.

• Use strong boxes and fill them completely so they do not collapse when stacked. Check the strength rating printed on the box.
• Label boxes on the top and sides.
• Clean items before storing them.
• Leave space between your goods and the walls for ventilation.
• Put heavy items at the bottom and light ones on top, with the things you will need most often at the front.
• Check what the facility allows you to store, as rules vary.

When choosing a facility, check:

• Parking: is there room to turn a 3.5 tonne van? If you cannot visit, look at the site on Google Street View.
• Loading bays: a covered bay makes loading easier in bad weather.
• Trolleys: most facilities provide them, but check before the day.
• Access hours: extended or 24-hour access lets you load early on moving day.
• Facilities: some sites offer a kitchen area with tea and coffee.

13. List where everything important is

If you are selling, leave your buyer a short guide to the property. If you are buying, ask the seller for one. It should answer the following questions.

Where is the stopcock? Most homes have an internal and an external stopcock. The internal one is usually under the kitchen sink; otherwise try the bathroom, near the gas meter, a utility room or a cupboard. The external one is usually in the pavement outside, under a metal cover marked “water”, “stopcock” or “W”. If you cannot find yours, ask a neighbour where theirs is, as it will often be in a similar place.

Where are the gas and electricity meters? In most homes they are in the kitchen, the hallway or an outside meter box.

Do any surfaces need special care? Note which cleaning products suit each surface. Note also whether worktops can take hot pans.

Which day are the bins collected? Check the local council’s website or ask a neighbour.

What should happen to leftover paint? Offer tins that match the walls to your buyer for touching up. Friends and family may also want them. If you take paint with you, tape the lids shut and wrap the tins in newspaper. Otherwise, Community RePaint, a UK-wide network of schemes, collects usable leftover paint and makes it available at low cost for reuse.

How to find instruction manuals and warranties

Many manuals are available on manufacturers’ websites to read online or download. If you cannot find one, search Google for: site:[manufacturer’s website] [model name] instruction manual. For warranties, check your receipt or online purchase history, the manufacturer’s website and the retailer’s records. Your bank statements may show the purchase date. Check too whether you bought an extended warranty.

How to find out where the tiles came from

With so many tile suppliers in the UK, tracing the original source may not be possible. Instead, take a photograph of the tiles to a tile shop or submit it online. Ask whether they can match it. If you know the manufacturer, The Tile Association lets you find a stockist.

How to find out where fixed furniture came from

Look for a maker’s tag, label or stamp, often on the inside of doors or drawers. If there is none, ask a furniture specialist.

Which company supplies the energy?

For gas, search the property’s postcode on the Find My Supplier website or call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. For electricity, find the local network operator using the Energy Networks Association’s postcode search, then search for the supplier on the network operator’s website. Citizens Advice explains both steps.

What to do about broadband

Check which providers serve your new address and answer these questions before you decide:

• Are you still in contract with your current provider? What would leaving early cost?
• Does your current provider serve the area you are moving to?
• Are you happy with your current package? Could you bundle TV, phone and broadband?
• If your provider does not cover the new area, which providers do?

Then either transfer your service to the new address or set a cancellation date for the old one and order a new package. Arrange this well before you move, as installation at a new address can take time.

Where is the thermostat?

It is usually on an interior wall towards the centre of the home, away from the kitchen, windows, doors, air vents and direct sunlight.

14. Settle old bills and set up new ones

You will already have told your suppliers you are moving. Now pay any outstanding bills and set up payments for the new ones. Scheduling bills for early in the month, just after payday, shows you what is left for the rest of the month. Some banks let you set money aside in a separate pot for bills.

Council tax: tell the councils for both your old and new addresses, ideally about a month before you move, using the change of address page on each council’s website. Include a forwarding address for every adult who pays council tax at the old property. Check the band of your new home on GOV.UK’s council tax band service (England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors website (Scotland). If similar neighbouring homes are in a lower band, you can challenge your band; you will need evidence.

Other regular costs to set up:

• Buildings and contents insurance
• Mortgage repayments
• Electricity, gas and water
• Phone, broadband and TV
• TV Licence
• Service charges and ground rent for flats
• Maintenance such as an annual boiler service
• Parking permits
• Transport costs

15. Change the locks

In the excitement of a new home, security is easily forgotten. The previous owners may have given spare keys to friends, family or tradespeople. Contracts require all keys to be handed over, but there is no way to know whether every copy has been returned. Changing the locks removes that risk.

• Change the locks as soon as possible after you move in.
• Read your home insurance policy. Some policies require you to change the locks. Not doing so could invalidate your cover.
• Check the locks, doors and windows of any shed or garage you will use for storage. Change those locks too.
• Put up curtains or blinds early so passers-by cannot see your valuables.
• Walk the boundary to check fences are intact and hedges are not overgrown.
• Check the condition of doors and windows. Take expert advice if you are unsure.

16. Make a priority list of spending

Once you have unpacked, you will probably have plenty of ideas for furnishing and decorating. After the largest purchase of your life, spend on what you need first. You may want a new kitchen, but if your survey shows the boiler is near the end of its life, the boiler comes first. List everything you want to change or buy, then put it in order: hot water, heating, a working kitchen and any roof leak come before decoration.

Selling your current home?

If you need to sell before you move, choosing the right estate agent is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Compare local estate agents’ fees free on easyProperty: enter your postcode to see fee proposals from local high street and online agents side by side, with no obligation. Our estate agent fees guide explains what you can expect to pay. Our article on the best time to sell a property can help you plan your timing.