Moving House Checklist

On this page: Quick estimator | Timeline | Who to notify | Packing order | Mistakes to avoid | Printable checklist | FAQ

Useful guides: How to pack room by room | Packing for storage | Comparing removal quotes

Moving house is one of the most stressful things you will do. The research backs this up. The British Psychological Society ranks moving as one of life’s most stressful events, up there with divorce and losing a job. A lot of that stress comes from the same place. You have 50 things to do, you do not know when to do them, and you are terrified you will forget something important like notifying the council.

This moving house checklist covers everything from the moment you know you are moving to the day you settle into your new home. It is structured by timeline so you know exactly what to do and when. Use it as your central plan. Tick things off as you go.

1st week of storage FREE with any removal. No minimum spend. No catches. Just mention it when you book.

How many boxes do you need? A quick estimator

Every moving house checklist asks you to order packing materials, but nobody tells you how much to order. Here is a rough guide based on property size. These are real ranges from thousands of house moves we have done across London. One thing to know before you buy: small double-walled boxes are the workhorse of any move. Single-walled boxes collapse under weight after a few hours in a van. Spend the extra 50p per box on double-walled and they will survive the journey.

Important: Properties with 3+ bedrooms vary enormously. Book a video survey for an accurate materials estimate. You will also need 3-4 rolls of brown PVC tape (avoid cheap tape, it splits under weight) and fragile tape for marking breakables.

Not sure what boxes you need? We offer packing materials sized for the real-world quantities above. We can also deliver them to your door before moving day. Visit our Get Your Free Quote to see what we stock.

Not ready to pack yourself? We offer a full packing service London. Our crew can pack your entire home in a day while you focus on everything else. Delivery and packing in one go.

Timeline: What to do and when

This is the heart of your moving house checklist. We have broken it into phases so you can focus on one chunk at a time.

8 weeks before the move (or as soon as you know)

These are the things that have the longest lead times or cost the most if you leave them late.

• Book your removal company. Good removal companies get booked weeks ahead. Summer, end-of-month, and the Christmas period are the busiest. The earlier you book, the more choice you have for dates. See our house removals London page for full details of what we offer.
• Get quotes from at least three companies. A proper quote should be based on a video or in-person survey. If a company quotes you over the phone without seeing your home, that price will change on moving day. Read our guide to comparing removal quotes for what to look for.
• Start your mortgage or rental paperwork. If you are buying, your solicitor and mortgage lender need time. Exchange and completion dates lock in your moving timetable.
• Check your notice period. If you are renting, check your tenancy agreement for the notice period. Usually one month, but it varies. Give notice as soon as your moving date is confirmed.
• Book a survey with your removal company. A video survey takes about 20 minutes. The company sees what you actually own. You get an accurate fixed price. This is the single biggest step you can take to prevent moving day surprises.

4 to 6 weeks before the move

• Apply for parking suspensions. If your new or old address is in a controlled parking zone, you may need a parking bay suspension or skip permit. In London, some councils require 2-3 weeks notice. We can apply for parking bay suspensions on your behalf for a small admin fee. Check with your local council for their specific process.
• Order packing materials. Get boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and wardrobe cartons delivered to your home. We offer packing materials and can deliver them to you. Order them now so you have them ready when you start packing.
• Book time off work. If you need days to pack, request them now. Most people underestimate how long packing takes. A 2-bed flat can take 3-5 full days.
• Measure your new home. Check whether your existing furniture will fit. Measure doorways, hallways, and staircases. There is nothing worse than arriving with a sofa that does not fit through the front door.

Pro tip from our movers: When you measure your new place, check the stairwell width and any 90-degree turns on the stairs. That is where furniture gets stuck. If your sofa is over 80cm wide, measure the turn at the bottom of the stairs carefully.

• Start decluttering. Go room by room. Sort into three piles: keep, sell/donate, throw away. Do not overthink this. If you have not used something in a year, you will not miss it. This is the best time to reduce how much you pay to move.

2 to 4 weeks before the move

• Book your removal company. If you have not done so already, confirm your booking now. A deposit is normal. Full payment upfront is a red flag.
• Transfer or set up utilities at your new address. Contact your current energy supplier. Tell them your move-out date and final meter reading. Arrange the new supply at your new home. The same goes for water, broadband, and TV.
• Inform your employer and update your payroll details. If you are employed, update your address with HR. Tax codes, P60s, and pension statements go to your home address.
• Start packing rooms you do not use often. The spare bedroom. The loft. The garden shed. The garage. These rooms are full of things you rarely touch. Pack them first. You will be glad of the head start.
• Arrange school transfers if you have children. Contact your new local school to check places. Your current school needs notice. This can take weeks to process, so start early.
• Redirect your post. Set up a Royal Mail redirection. It costs about £36 for 3 months or £67 for 12 months. Do this at least 2 weeks before the move. The redirection catches everything you forget to notify.

1 to 2 weeks before the move

• Notify everyone on your change of address list. This is the big one. Banks, insurers, doctor, dentist, council, DVLA, subscriptions. See the full list below in the dedicated section.
• Book a slot at your local tip or arrange a bulky waste collection. If your decluttering has produced large items that do not fit in your normal bin, you need a plan. Some councils require booking weeks ahead.
• Confirm the moving day details with your removal company. Check the arrival time, the number of crew, and any access notes for your new address.
• Pack the rooms you use occasionally. Dining room. Hallway cupboards. Bookshelves. Guest bathroom. Keep packing daily as a rhythm. A little every evening prevents a frantic last weekend.
• Label your boxes properly. Write the destination room name on every box. Not “kitchen” from your old house but “kitchen” from your new house. It saves hours on unloading day.
• Run down your freezer. Eat what you can. Give away what you will not eat before moving day. Defrosting a full freezer on moving morning is miserable.
• Arrange care for children and pets on moving day. Moving day is not a day for toddlers underfoot or dogs escaping through open doors. Book a friend, family member, or paid sitter.

Moving day minus 2 to 3 days

• Defrost the freezer and leave the door open. It needs to be completely dry for the move. Moisture causes mould inside appliances during transit.
• Prepare your moving day essentials box. This is a single box or bag that travels with you, not on the lorry. It should contain:
  • Phone chargers, power banks, and a multi-plug extension lead
  • A few days of clothes and shoes
  • Toiletries and medications
  • Kettle, tea bags, coffee, and a few mugs
  • Toilet roll, hand soap, bin bags
  • Important documents (passports, deeds, wills, contracts)
  • Laptop, tablet, or work devices
  • Snacks and bottled water
  • A basic tool kit (screwdriver, spanner, scissors, tape)
  • First aid kit
  • Cash and cards
  • Keys for both properties
• Take photos of your meter readings. Photograph the gas, electricity, and water meters in your old property. This protects you if the utility company disputes the final bill.
• Disconnect large appliances. Washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer. Turn off the water supply and disconnect the hoses. Leave them to drain.
• Set aside items that need special handling. Valuables, important documents, and anything you do not want the removal crew to handle. Transport these yourself.
• Pack a final “last night” bag. Pyjamas. Toothbrush. Phone charger. Something to sleep in. The last night in your old home, these are the things you still need.

Moving day itself

• Wake up early. The crew arrives. You want to be dressed, caffeinated, and ready to direct.
• Strip the beds. Take off all bedding and put it in a bag or box. The mattress needs to be clear for moving.
• Finish packing the absolute last items. Breakfast dishes. Bathroom toiletries. The kettle (but keep it aside for the essentials box).
• Show the foreman around. The foreman needs to see everything that needs to go. Point out fragile items. Show them where the furniture goes at both ends.
• Lock windows and secure the property. As rooms are cleared, lock the windows. The crew usually handles this, but it helps to check.
• Set aside the vacuum cleaner. You will need it for a final clean of your old home after everything is loaded.
• Do a final walkthrough. Check every room, every cupboard, every shed. Open the loft hatch. People leave things behind in lofts more than anywhere else.
• Lock up and hand over keys. Take final meter readings. Leave the keys with the estate agent or new owner as agreed.

After the move (first day)

• Take meter readings at your new home. Photograph them. Send them to your new and old utility suppliers.
• Check that everything arrived. Walk through each room. Look for visible damage. If something is damaged, take photos and contact your removal company immediately.
• Set up the beds. Make the beds first. You will be exhausted. Having a bed ready to sleep in makes everything else bearable.
• Unpack the essentials box. Get the kettle on. Set up your phone charger. Put out the toiletries.
• Say hello to your neighbours. A quick introduction goes a long way. They can tell you about bin collection days, parking quirks, and which takeaway delivers fastest.
• Register with a new GP and dentist. Do not wait until you are ill. Registering takes five minutes. Do it now.

First week after moving

• Update your driving licence and car registration. The DVLA needs your new address on your licence and V5C logbook. You can do both online for free.
• Register to vote at your new address. It takes 5 minutes on the gov.uk website.
• Check your council tax band. Your new property may be in a different band. Inform the council of your move-in date so they can start your bill.
• Update TV licence and TV subscription. Moving your TV licence address is free. Netflix, Sky, and other subscriptions need updating too.
• Set up bins and recycling. Find out your collection day. Order a new bin if needed. Some London boroughs use different bin systems.
• Unpack room by room. Start with the bedroom and kitchen. Then work through the rest. Do not feel pressured to finish in one week. Take your time setting things up properly.
• Update your home and contents insurance. Your new property is different. Your existing policy may not cover the new address. Call your insurer and update the details.

Who to notify when you move house UK

This is the question that pops up most often in search. People want a single list they can work through. Here it is based on how urgent each item is.

Essential (do these first)

• Bank and building society. They need your new address for security checks and statements. Most let you update online.
• Employer and pension provider. Tax documents and pension statements go to your home address.
• HMRC. If you are self-employed or receive tax credits, child benefit, or marriage allowance, update your address with HMRC directly.
• Council (for council tax). Tell both councils: the one you are leaving and the one you are joining. Give final and start dates.
• Utility companies. Energy, water, broadband, landline. Give meter readings at both properties.
• TV licence and TV/broadband provider. Update the address on your TV licence. It is free. Then update Sky, Virgin, Netflix, and any other subscriptions.
• DVLA. Update your driving licence and vehicle logbook (V5C). Both are free to update online.
• Voter registration. Register at your new address. Do not assume this carries over automatically. It does not.

Important (do these within the first week)

• Doctor, dentist, and optician. Register at new practices or update your address with your existing ones if they are still local.
• Car and home insurance. Insurers need your new address. Some policies automatically cover you for a short period after moving. Check. You do not want to be uninsured.
• Gym, club, and membership subscriptions. Many gyms have zone restrictions. You may need to transfer to a closer branch.
• Child’s school and nursery. If you are staying in the same area, update the address. If you are moving areas, arrange the transfer.
• Private pension providers. Not just your workplace pension. Any private pensions or SIPPs you hold.

Don’t forget (easy to miss)

• Credit card and store card providers. Every card you hold needs your new address.
• Online shopping accounts. Amazon, eBay, and delivery services. A delivery sent to your old address might not reach you.
• Passport. You can update your address online if your passport is valid. It is not mandatory to update between renewals, but it helps.
• Pet microchip database. If you have a pet, update the registered address. This is a legal requirement in the UK.
• Subscription boxes and magazines. Anything that arrives by post.
• Life insurance and private medical insurance. Policy documents need the right address to be valid.
• Funeral plan or Will executors. If someone holds a copy of your Will for safekeeping, tell them your new address.
• Vehicle finance or leasing company. If you have a car on finance or lease.

What to pack first and what to leave for last

This is where most people go wrong. They start with random rooms and end up living around boxes for weeks.

Pack first (4+ weeks before):

• Seasonal clothes and shoes (what you are not wearing now)
• Guest bedroom items
• Loft and garage contents
• Spare linens and towels
• Books, DVDs, decorative items
• Christmas decorations and sentimental storage
• Garden equipment and tools

Pack second (2-3 weeks before):

• Main bedroom items (keep a few days of clothes out)
• Dining room items
• Bathroom items (keep daily essentials separate)
• Home office and paperwork (keep active files out)
• Hallway cupboards and storage

Pack last (1-2 days before):

• Kitchen items (pack a few days before, keep one set of pans, plates, and utensils out)
• Daily clothes and shoes
• Bathroom toiletries you use every day
• Bedding (strip the bed on moving morning)

The rule is simple: if you do not need it in the next 48 hours, pack it now. Every box packed early is one less thing to rush on moving morning.

If you are running short on time, we offer a full packing service. Our crew can take over the rooms you have not got to yet and have them packed in a day.

Our room-by-room packing guide goes into detail for each room, including which items need bubble wrap, how to pack mirrors, and the best way to tape boxes so they do not burst open.

Common moving mistakes and how to avoid them

After 10,000+ moves, we have seen it all. Here are the most common mistakes people make.

Underestimating how much you own

This is the number one mistake. People look around their home and think they own less than they do. Then the removal company arrives and there is 30% more stuff than the estimate. The solution is honest. Open every cupboard. Check the loft. Include the shed and garage. When you get a removal quote, show the surveyor everything. A proper video survey catches this.

Skipping the parking application

In central London, this can derail your entire move. If the removal lorry cannot park within 20-30 metres of your door, carrying items takes twice as long and costs more. Apply for a parking suspension or bay reservation weeks ahead. We can handle this for you when you book your move.

Not labelling boxes properly

“Kitchen stuff” on a box tells your movers nothing when they arrive at your new house. Every box should have the new room name on it. “Kitchen – new” or “Bedroom 2 – new.” Better yet, add a brief contents note: “Kitchen – new | plates, glasses, mugs.” It takes 10 seconds per box and saves hours of confusion on the other end.

Forgetting the meter readings

If you do not take a final meter reading at your old property, the utility company may estimate your final bill. This can mean paying for energy someone else used after you left. Photograph every meter on moving morning.

Trying to pack everything in one weekend

Packing a 3-bed house in a weekend is possible if you work flat out and do nothing else. Most people cannot do that with jobs, kids, and life happening. Start packing 4-6 weeks before the move. A little every day. If you are short on time, hire professionals. We offer a full packing service and can pack your entire home in one day.

Not booking the removal company early enough

Summer Fridays and end-of-month dates book out weeks in advance. If you have a specific date, book as soon as you know it. The difference between booking 8 weeks ahead vs 2 weeks ahead is often the difference between getting your preferred date and having to compromise.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to move?

Moving house takes planning, but you do not have to do it all yourself. We have been moving homes across London since 2010. 10,000+ moves. 5.0 star rating. Full insurance. Free quotes. And your first week of storage is free with any removal booking. Visit our house removals London page to see exactly what a full-service move includes.

Call us on 0207 118 7778 or fill out the form. We will arrange a survey within 24 hours and send you a fixed-price quote within 12-36 hours.

• 5.0 ★ across 215+ Google reviews
• Fully insured up to £25,000 as standard
• 10,000+ moves completed since 2010
• 1st week of storage FREE with any removal

1st week of storage FREE with any removal. No minimum spend. No catches.

London House Removals Ltd. 313B Hoe Street, London, E17 9BG. 0207 118 7778. info@londonhouseremovals.com. Fully insured. 5-star rated.

Written by Kris Kazimierski, Owner, London House Removals. 10,000+ house moves completed since 2010.