Moving Logistics
Who do I need to inform when I move house?
Notify the following on or shortly after the move. Government: DVLA (driving licence and V5C, free, online), HMRC, your local council (closing council tax account at the old address, opening at the new), HM Passport Office (next renewal), the electoral register via register-to-vote, and TV Licensing if applicable.
Money: every bank, building society, credit card provider, mortgage lender, pension provider, ISA/investment account, and your employer for payroll. Update home and contents insurance (the new postcode changes the premium), buildings insurance from completion day, and car insurance.
Health and household: GP, dentist, optician (re-register at the new postcode), schools, vet, breakdown cover, gym, subscriptions, and Royal Mail (paid redirection for 3, 6 or 12 months). Utilities — gas, electricity, water, broadband — should be informed two to three weeks before the move date.
What this means in practice
A typical move triggers 35–45 separate change-of-address notifications. The expensive misses are usually: car insurance (a SE15 to TW9 move can drop the premium £200/year, going the other way often pushes it up), home insurance (the new property's flood and subsidence risk reset the premium), and the electoral register (failing to re-register can cost a credit footprint, since lenders cross-check the register during applications). Royal Mail Redirection at £39 for 3 months catches everything else missed. DVLA fines are up to £1,000 for failing to update a driving licence — automatic and rarely waived.
Related questions
How long does Royal Mail Redirection take to set up?
Apply online at royalmail.com/redirection at least five working days before the move date. Identity verification is required — either online via the standard digital ID check or by post with photocopied ID. Pricing in 2026: £39.99 for three months, £56.99 for six months, £79.99 for twelve months at one address. Up to eight named individuals can be redirected from the same property under one application. International redirection costs more and is limited to 12 months.
Do I need to inform HMRC separately, or does the council notify them?
Inform HMRC directly. Council tax registration with the new local authority does not propagate to HMRC. Update through your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK — the change synchronises across PAYE, Self Assessment, Child Benefit and Tax Credits. State Pension and benefits require separate notification through the DWP. Failing to update HMRC creates non-receipt of P800 calculations and tax-code coding notices, which can result in incorrect tax code being applied at the new payroll address.
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