You’ve signed and the deal is sealed, but before you get wrapped up in packing, who do you need to notify about your new address? We’ve created a handy checklist to make sure you tell everyone who needs to know - Words Hilary Pereira
Once contracts are exchanged on a property, the excitement – and tension – of the impending move begins to build. In between decisions on décor and moving choices, some of the time between now and completion can be gainfully utilised by informing the relevant people and services of your new address and other contact details.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to who you need to tell and when. There’s also an at-a-glance ticklist for you to cut out and complete as you go along, so you can be sure that everyone is kept in the loop. We’re assuming you’ll remember to tell friends and family without us reminding you!
Essentials
Between exchange and completion
There are a few things you can do between exchange and completion, which is typically about two weeks.
• Make sure that you have re-set up any direct debits/standing orders in your new address.
• Reconfirm dates and times with your removals company, and make sure the crew have your new address details, including any information on parking restrictions, and your mobile phone number so they can contact you en route if necessary.
• If you are packing your own possessions, obtain some crates/boxes from your removals company.
• If you are paying for the packing to be done for you, it’s still worth singling out any particularly precious, valuable or breakable pieces and packing them separately yourself. Mark the boxes ‘fragile’ if they’re going to be loaded on to the removals lorry.
• Make a list of what to pack last and what to unpack first at the other end, and set aside a box or two for these items. Typically this list will include loo roll; a small selection of crockery and cutlery, including mugs and teaspoons; a kettle; tea, coffee and sugar; milk; snacks; light bulbs; a torch; a selection of fuses; a couple of saucepans and utensils; a tea towel and hand towel; a wiping-down cloth; cleaning materials; bedding and pyjamas; slippers; washbag; phone charger; alarm clock.
• Agree a time with your estate agent or solicitor when you can collect your new keys and hand over your old keys.
• Arrange for any utilities reconnections that require access to your new address to coincide with you getting access to the property.
• Register with a new doctor, dentist and/or other health provider(s) in your new area.
• If you have any regular deliveries or services at your old address, such as window cleaning, a milkman, newspaper deliveries and so on, arrange to have these cancelled in good time and settle any unpaid accounts.
• Start to use up foods from your fridge and freezer.
• Think about what plants, if any, you might want to take with you (with the agreement of the next tenant/owner).
1 Utility companies
Your gas, electricity and water providers should be top of your priority list for notifying of your change of address – not least because you want to be sure that these utilities are connected at your new home ready for when you move in. Some utility companies may need you to give a specified amount of notice that you’re vacating your current home, which is typically around two days. Otherwise, in some instances, you may incur a penalty, such as remaining liable for charges incurred for the 28 days after you leave the premises or until the next bill would become payable. So be sure to inform all utility companies as soon as you can.
2 Telecoms providers
Make sure you get your phone, digital TV and/or broadband services reinstalled at your new address by letting each service provider (or just the one if you have a comprehensive package) know by phone, email or post at least a week ahead of time – sooner if you possibly can. Visit the relevant website(s) to find out the best way of informing your provider(s). You should also inform your mobile phone company and the TV Licensing Authority.
3 Financial services
Give your bank and/or building society plenty of notice of a change of address so that they can amend your details in good time. Some will want you to visit your branch in person; others will send you a change of address form if you telephone a central number. They will almost certainly require you to send in some form of ID, such as a passport or birth certificate, too, so if you’re sending this through the mail, make sure to use the Special Delivery service for sending valuables and important documents. Don’t forget to inform credit card companies, store-card companies and loan companies in the same way.
If you have any loyalty cards, let the administrators know of your change of address so you’ll still receive your bonuses. If you own any shares, inform the registrars so that share certificates and options to sell/buy all reach you within the required timeframes. Don’t forget to cancel any standing orders or direct debits relating to bills for your old address.
4 Medical
Make sure to inform your doctor, dentist, optician, hospital (if you are registered), medical insurance company, life insurance/assurance company, osteopath and any health clinics you may be registered with, as well as any other services such as home help.
5 Household
Rental or mortgage companies should all be informed in good time of your house move, and don’t forget to inform buildings and contents insurance companies too. Car insurance companies, rental organisations, motoring organisations and the DVLA will need to know as will the council tax office. (It’s worth informing your council sooner rather than later as you may be eligible for a refund on payments already made in respect of your old address.)
You should also tell the JobCentre and social security office if you’re claiming any benefits or allowances. Make sure you inform the Passport Office, too.
6 Personal finance
Your employer will need your new address on file, as will the National Insurance office and the Inland Revenue. Contact your HR department or accountant to find out the location of your tax office. Alternatively, look on your last tax return form for details. Don’t forget to inform your pension company too.
7 Children and pets
If you have children in nursery, playgroup, pre-school or school, do make sure you advise them of your change of address for their records, and for any correspondence you might receive by post. You’ll also want to inform any music teachers, dance schools, swimming clubs and other out-of-school activity clubs. If you have pets, inform the pet insurance company and the vets where your pet is registered. You’ll also need to tell the company which holds your animal’s microchip registration details (if any) and any boarding kennels/cattery you use.
8 Leisure interests
If you pay a subscription to any magazine companies – or to any charities – it’s important you let them know your new address quickly so your order doesn’t go astray. You should also inform any sports and social clubs where you hold a membership, as well as any trusts or other recreational organisations you belong to.
Protect your identity
CIFAS (the UK’s fraud prevention service) warns of the dangers of identity theft if house movers are not scrupulously careful about removing all personal data from their old homes effectively. It cites the case of a man who took himself off the electoral register in his old home and redirected his post through Royal Mail only to find himself targeted by identity thieves six months after the move. The fraudsters had re-registered the homeowner onto the electoral roll, set up a company in his name and run up large utilities debts and other bills. The fraud only came to light after his application for a credit card was refused. To help prevent this happening to you:
• Ensure there are no personal documents or other papers carrying your name anywhere in the house when you leave.
• Make sure you redirect your mail, register with the Mail Preference Service and make sure to inform everyone of your new address in good time to avoid any mail going to your old address
• End utility and telephone contracts before you move out of the house.
• If any of your things are going into storage, make sure there’s nothing personally identifiable from the boxes.
• Keep checks on your credit record after moving home.
9 Shopping
If you hold an online account with any stores, you’ll need to change your address with these for delivery purposes as well as for billing (although you may already have informed the finance office when you were working through the financial services list).
10 Royal Mail
It’s always worth paying the small amount it costs (from £7.35 for a month) for Royal Mail to redirect your post for a period of time (see also One-click changes, below, for information on its free change-of-address service). This means that any mail from distant relatives and other rarely-used contacts that might otherwise go astray will be redirected to your new address, whether that be in the UK or even overseas. You can sign up to have your mail redirected for one, three, six or 12 months for up to two years. It’s also worth letting the Mailing Preference Service have your new address, too, so you can cut down on the amount of unsolicited mail you’ll receive while you’re tackling general postal admin.
24 hours to go...
Some things just can’t be done more than a day ahead. These include:
• Emptying and defrosting your fridge/freezer if you’re going to be travelling any distance.
• Removing any garden plants you want to take with you.
• Reading your meters – either last thing at night or first thing on the morning of moving day – and contacting your utility companies with the results.
One-click changes
• If you visit the websites of your utilities and services providers to find out the best way of informing each one of a change of address you may find you can advise them via an online form. If you choose to use this option, it’s a good idea to print off the completed forms and any confirmations of receipt so that you have a hard copy of all your correspondence in case of future queries or problems on moving day.
• There are a number of websites that keep address records of thousands of organisations on their internal databases, meaning they can make contact and notify of your new address on your behalf. This could save you time and money when it comes to informing less crucial organisations than your utilities and financial institutions. Sites such as www.moveme.com and www.iammoving.com allow you to register with them to change your address with a list of providers.
The steps are similar for most sites. Simply, enter your old and new addresses. Then you select the companies, services and organisations you need to notify.
You’ll be asked to enter specific details, where relevant, for each, such as account or membership numbers. Once you’ve reviewed your list, you simply hit the send button and the job’s done. You don’t have to do it all at once, either: you can save the form and return to it at any time once you’ve registered. Most of the sites offer supplier comparisons so it could be a good time to consider whether you’re getting the best value – online comparison sites are worth a look too.