Updating your address after a move sounds simple until you sit down and realise how many organisations actually hold it. Miss one and you could end up with post going to your old house, a car that is not correctly registered, or a delayed tax refund. Here is every organisation worth ticking off, grouped so you can work through them in an afternoon.
1. Royal Mail Redirection
This is the one safety net that covers everything else while you work through the list below. Set up a Royal Mail redirection before moving day so any post you have not caught yet still reaches you. It typically takes a few working days to start, so book it at least a week ahead.
2. Government and Official Bodies
Start with the ones that matter most: the DVLA (both your driving licence and vehicle log book, V5C), HMRC, your council for council tax and the electoral roll, your GP and dentist, and the NHS if you need to register with a new practice. If you claim any benefits or a pension, update those separately, as they are rarely linked to HMRC records automatically.
3. Banks, Building Societies and Pensions
Update every current account, savings account, credit card and loan provider. Do not forget building societies, ISAs, and any workplace or private pension providers. Most of these can be updated online or through their app in a few minutes, but it is easy to forget the ones you rarely log into, such as an old savings account or a pension from a previous job.
4. Insurance Providers
Car insurance, home and contents insurance, life insurance, and pet insurance all need updating, and quickly. Your address directly affects your car insurance premium and your cover, so this is not one to leave for later. If you are also insuring your belongings during the move itself, check what cover your removal company provides.
5. Utilities and Home Services
Set up your new gas, electricity, water and broadband providers, and give final meter readings to your old suppliers on the day you leave. Update your TV licence, and if you subscribe to a home phone line, transfer or cancel it. Take photos of your meter readings on move day, since disputes about final bills are far easier to resolve with evidence.
6. Subscriptions and Deliveries
Online shopping accounts, magazine subscriptions, food and drink boxes, and any regular deliveries all need the new address. Amazon and other retailers store multiple addresses, so double check the default has actually changed rather than just being added as a new option.
7. Employer and Professional Bodies
Tell your employer's payroll and HR team, since this affects your P60 and any correspondence about tax or pension. If you belong to a professional body, union, or hold any licences tied to your address, update those too.
8. Schools, Clubs and Personal Contacts
If you have children, update the school and any clubs or activities. Let your vet know if you have pets registered at your old address. Finally, tell friends and family, and update the address stored with any gyms, loyalty schemes or memberships you use regularly.
Tip: Create a simple spreadsheet with three columns: organisation, date updated, and confirmation received. Working through it this way stops you losing track of what is left, especially with the accounts you only think about once a year.
For a full week by week plan covering the whole move, not just the paperwork, see our complete moving house checklist or try our free interactive moving checklist tool.
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