Moving House Checklist London 2025: Everything You Need to Do
Moving house involves more tasks than most people anticipate. Miss one critical step and you could be without broadband for a month, find your mail going to the wrong address, or discover your council tax is still being charged on your old property. This complete checklist covers every task, organised by when it needs to happen.
8 Weeks Before Moving
- Confirm your moving date with your solicitor (completion or tenancy start)
- Get removal company quotes — compare at least 2–3
- Book your chosen removal company (popular dates fill fast)
- Start a moving folder: keep quotes, contracts, and key contact numbers in one place
- Begin decluttering — donate, sell, or dispose of anything you're not taking
- Order packing boxes and materials (buy more than you think you need)
6 Weeks Before Moving
- Notify your employer of your new address
- Redirect your Royal Mail post (costs around £33 for 3 months — book at royalmail.com)
- Notify your bank, credit cards, and loan providers
- Update your address with HMRC (online via Government Gateway)
- Contact your car and home insurance providers
- Notify your pension provider and investments
- Register with a GP near your new address (before you need one)
- If you have children: notify their school and begin researching new schools if needed
4 Weeks Before Moving
- Book broadband installation at your new address — providers often have 2–3 week wait times
- Notify current energy, water, and council tax providers of your move-out date
- Set up new energy and water accounts at your new address (or transfer supplier)
- Apply for a parking suspension at your old address if needed (contact your London borough council — allow at least 5 working days)
- Apply for a parking suspension at your new address if needed
- If renting: confirm deposit return process with your landlord or agent
- Update your address on the electoral roll (gov.uk/register-to-vote)
- Update DVLA with your new address (can be done online)
2 Weeks Before Moving
- Begin packing non-essential rooms (spare bedrooms, loft, garage)
- Pack books, seasonal items, and anything you won't need before moving day
- Label every box with room destination and brief contents
- Confirm all details with your removal company: time, address, access instructions
- Arrange for children and pets to be looked after on moving day
- Defrost your freezer
- Arrange to return items borrowed from neighbours or friends
1 Week Before Moving
- Pack most of your belongings — leave out only essentials for the week
- Prepare an "essentials box" (kettle, mugs, tea bags, phone charger, toilet roll, towels, bedding, change of clothes, important documents)
- Confirm completion/tenancy date with your solicitor or letting agent
- Take meter readings at your current property
- Clean items before packing (fridges, ovens, washing machines)
- Charge all devices and portable batteries
Moving Day
- Do a final walk-through of every room, cupboard, loft, and garage
- Take meter readings at your old property (photograph them with a timestamp)
- Hand over keys to landlord, agent, or new owner as agreed
- Take meter readings at your new property immediately on arrival
- Check the inventory at your new property (if renting)
- Test all lights, taps, and heating before your removal team leaves
- Locate the fuse box, stopcock, and gas meter at your new property
Within 2 Weeks of Moving
- Register with your new GP
- Update your address with any remaining providers (loyalty cards, subscriptions, etc.)
- Notify council tax at your new borough
- Check broadband is working correctly
- Meet your new neighbours
Ready to book your removal team? Get a free quote from Metro City moves London — we'll handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on everything else on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most commonly forgotten task when moving house?
Redirecting post and updating the electoral roll are the two most commonly forgotten tasks. Failing to redirect post can lead to sensitive financial documents being delivered to your old address for months.
How long does it take to pack up a 3-bedroom house?
Most people underestimate packing time. A 3-bedroom house typically takes 15–25 hours of packing, spread over 1–2 weeks. Starting early and packing non-essential rooms first makes the final days far less stressful.