Who to Notify When You Move House?

Moving house is no small task. Between packing up your belongings and getting settled somewhere new, there’s an admin list to get through too. Miss someone off it and you risk delayed post, missed bills, or in the worst case, identity theft. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Who should you notify first when moving house?

Some notifications matter more than others. Government bodies and critical services should be top of your list, as these often carry legal obligations or real consequences if overlooked.

Who to notify	Why it matters
Royal Mail	Set up a mail redirection service to catch anything sent to your old address
HMRC	Keep your tax records up to date to avoid complications
DVLA	Update your driving licence and V5C log book. Failing to do so can result in fines of up to £1,000
NHS and GP	Inform your GP and any specialists so your medical records follow you. Register with a new GP if needed
Electoral roll	Update your details to stay eligible to vote and to support your credit score

Government and official bodies to notify

Beyond the essentials above, here are the other official organisations worth notifying:

• Passport Office. Not urgent, but worth updating, especially if you travel regularly.
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you receive any benefits, let the DWP know your new address straight away.

Banks and financial institutions

Your bank and financial providers need your current address, not just for correspondence, but to protect your financial security and prevent fraud.

• Banks. Update all accounts, including savings and investments. Most banks make this straightforward through their apps.
• Credit card providers. Keep your statements and correspondence secure by updating these early.
• Pension providers. Important documents sent to your old address could mean you miss critical updates about your savings.
• Insurance companies. Update all policies, including contents insurance, car insurance, and life insurance. For contents insurance in particular, make sure your new policy reflects your new property. Lemonade’s contents insurance is easy to update and built around what you actually own.

Utilities and home services

Utilities don’t transfer automatically, so you’ll need to take action to keep everything running smoothly.

• Energy suppliers. Submit final meter readings to your old supplier and set up an account with the provider at your new address.
• Water supplier. Contact both your current and new suppliers to ensure a smooth handover.
• Broadband and TV. Moving is a good opportunity to review your contract. Check coverage in your new area before transferring or switching to a better deal. Our guides on when to order broadband for a new house and how to set up broadband in the UK can help you get it sorted without the stress.
• TV licence. Update your address online to avoid any penalties.
• Council tax. Notify your local council of your moving date to close your old account and open a new one. If you’re renting, check our guide on what bills tenants pay to make sure you’ve got everything covered.

Subscriptions and memberships

Easy to overlook, but worth going through methodically:

• Streaming services. Update your billing address for platforms like Netflix or Spotify.
• Gym memberships. If your current gym is no longer convenient, consider cancelling or transferring to one closer to your new home.
• Loyalty cards. Tesco Clubcard, Boots Advantage Card, and similar schemes all need your correct address.
• Amazon and online retailers. Update your default delivery address before your next order goes to the wrong place.

Friends, family, and personal contacts

Once the essentials are sorted, let the important people in your life know your new address. A quick message, email, or even a moving announcement if you’re feeling organised.

What happens if you forget to update your address?

The consequences range from minor irritations to more serious problems. Late fees, missed payments, and important documents going astray are the most common issues. At the more serious end, sensitive post reaching the wrong hands is a genuine identity theft risk. Setting up a Royal Mail redirection service before you move gives you a safety net while you work through the rest of the list. Find out more about how Royal Mail’s redirection service works.

Picture this:

You move out and forget to update your address with your bank. Three months later, your new debit card is sent to your old address. The new occupants open it. Suddenly your financial security is at risk, along with a lot of unnecessary hassle. A simple address update takes two minutes and prevents all of it.

Before we go

Moving house is stressful, but a solid checklist-plus a bit of organisation-will make all the difference. Planning ahead ensures nothing gets lost in the shuffle, from your mail to your insurance. And remember, updating your contents insurance is a practical step to protect what’s yours in your new property. Need a flexible policy? Lemonade has you covered in minutes.

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