Working out who to notify when moving house is one of those jobs that looks small and turns out to be long. Your address sits with far more organisations than most people realise, from the DVLA and the council to the bank, the vet and the broadband provider. Miss a few and you risk fines, lost post, disrupted services and letters full of personal details landing at a house you no longer live in.
This guide lists everyone you are likely to need to tell, grouped by type, with a timeline showing when to contact each one. We move households across St Albans, Hertfordshire and London, and the address change admin is the part of moving people most often tell us they underestimated.
| Quick answer At minimum, tell the DVLA, your local councils (old and new), HMRC, the electoral register, your bank and card providers, your insurers, your energy, water and broadband suppliers, your GP and dentist, your employer and your TV Licensing account. Set up a Royal Mail redirection as a safety net for anyone you miss. Start with utilities and broadband about a month before you move, and handle government changes in the first week after. |
1. Why does it matter who you notify, and when?
Address changes fall into three groups, and each carries a different kind of risk if you get it wrong:
- Legal requirements. Some changes are required by law, such as updating your driving licence and vehicle log book. Missing them can mean a fine.
- Money and contracts. Energy, water, council tax and broadband are billed by address. Tell them late and you can end up paying for a home you have left, or starting at your new home on an expensive default tariff.
- Security. Bank statements, card renewals and official letters sent to your old address can be read or taken by whoever lives there next. This is one of the ways identity fraud starts.
Timing matters too. Some organisations need notice before you move so they can switch services over. Others can only be updated once you are actually living at the new address.
2. Which government organisations do you need to tell?
| Organisation | What to update | When | Notes |
| DVLA | Driving licence and vehicle log book (V5C) | As soon as you move | Free online. Fine of up to £1,000 for not updating |
| Electoral register | Register to vote at your new address | After you move | Takes a few minutes online |
| Council tax (old council) | Tell them your move-out date | 1 to 2 weeks before | So your final bill is correct |
| Council tax (new council) | Set up an account at the new address | Moving week | Ask about bin collection days at the same time |
| HMRC | Personal tax record | After you move | Also covers Child Benefit if you receive it |
| DWP | Any benefits or State Pension | After you move | Contact the office that pays you |
| TV Licensing | Move your licence to the new address | 1 to 2 weeks before | Your licence moves with you |
| Student Loans Company | Contact details | After you move | Only if you have a student loan |
| Passport Office | Nothing, unless you are applying for a passport | Not needed | Your passport does not show your address |
You can update your driving licence address on GOV.UK and register to vote at your new home through the GOV.UK voter registration page.
3. Which banks and financial companies do you need to tell?
Financial organisations are the most important group to get right, because they send the post that is most useful to fraudsters.
| Organisation type | Why it matters | Tip |
| Banks and building societies | Statements, cards and security letters | Update online banking first; it is usually quickest |
| Credit cards and store cards | Replacement cards get sent to the old address | Check the billing address too, or online payments may fail |
| Mortgage lender | Needs your correspondence address, especially if you keep the old property | Your conveyancer handles the new mortgage, not your details elsewhere |
| Pension providers | Annual statements and retirement letters | Include old workplace pensions you no longer pay into |
| Investments, ISAs and Premium Bonds | Statements and prize notifications | Easy to forget because you rarely hear from them |
| Loans and car finance | Payment letters and agreements | A missed letter can become a missed payment |
4. Which utilities and household services do you need to tell?
Utilities need contacting at both ends of the move: closing the account at your old home and opening or taking over one at your new home.
| Service | At your old home | At your new home |
| Gas and electricity | Give notice a couple of weeks before; final meter readings on moving day | Find out the current supplier; give opening readings on day one |
| Water | Tell them your move-out date and final meter reading if you have one | Set up an account; water companies are regional |
| Broadband and landline | Give notice early; check your contract end date | Book installation 3 to 4 weeks ahead, or you may start without internet |
| Home insurance | Keep cover until completion | Cover must start from completion day |
| Car insurance | Update your address before or on moving day | Premium may change with your new postcode |
| Mobile phone | Update billing address | Check signal at your new address before you commit to a new contract |
Photograph every meter at both properties on moving day. If you are not sure how the day itself runs, see our guide to what happens on completion day.
5. Which health, family and pet contacts do you need to tell?
- GP. If your new home is outside your practice’s area, register with a new GP near you. If you are staying in the area, just update your address.
- Dentist and optician. Update your details, or register with new ones if you are moving further away.
- Hospital or specialist clinics. If you have appointments booked, make sure letters reach you.
- Schools and nurseries. Update contact details, and apply for new school places early if you are changing area.
- Vet. Update your details or register with a new practice.
- Pet microchip database. In England, dogs and cats must be microchipped and the keeper’s details must be kept up to date, so update the database with your new address.
- Pet insurance. Your postcode can affect your premium.
6. Which everyday accounts and subscriptions are easy to forget?
These rarely cause serious problems, but they are the ones that cause the most irritation when they send a parcel or letter to your old home:
- Your employer and payroll, so payslips and P60s reach you.
- Online shopping accounts, including saved default delivery addresses.
- Magazine, meal kit and other delivery subscriptions.
- Gym, club and membership organisations.
- Charities you give to regularly.
- Loyalty cards and reward schemes.
- Friends and family, especially anyone who still sends cards by post.
7. When should you notify each one?
Contacting everyone on the same day is not realistic, and some organisations cannot be updated until you have moved. This timeline spreads the job out:
| When | Who to contact |
| 4 weeks or more before | Broadband provider (to book installation); school places if changing area |
| 2 weeks before | Energy and water suppliers; old council; TV Licensing; home insurer (to arrange cover from completion day) |
| 1 week before | Set up Royal Mail redirection; bank and card providers; employer |
| Moving day | Meter readings to energy and water suppliers; car insurer if not already done |
| First week after | DVLA; electoral register; new council; HMRC; GP and dentist; vet and pet microchip database |
| First month after | Pensions, investments, subscriptions, loyalty schemes and anyone still sending post to your old address |
For the physical side of the move, from booking removals to packing the last box, use our printable moving house checklist alongside this list.
8. Is a Royal Mail redirection worth it?
For most people, yes. However carefully you work through this list, a few organisations will still send post to your old address. A redirection forwards it to your new home for a set period, usually available for three, six or twelve months.
Two points to know before you buy one. First, it is a paid service, and the price depends on how long you choose, so check Royal Mail’s website for the current rates. Second, it only forwards post; it does not update your address with anyone. Treat it as a safety net, and use the post that gets forwarded as a reminder of who you still need to tell.
Apply at least a week before you move, as it takes several working days to set up.
9. How Shaheen Express Removals helps you focus on the admin
The address changes are something only you can do. The physical move is something we can take off your hands, so you have the time and headspace to get through the list.
- Full or partial packing. Our packing and unpacking service frees up the evenings you would otherwise spend packing boxes.
- Moves planned around your completion. We work to your completion date and key release, including early starts.
- Storage if the dates don’t line up. Personal storage, including shipping containers and crates, handled by the same team.
- Trusted locally. Rated 5.0 from 444 Google reviews, over 20 years in removals, fully insured and DBS-checked staff.
Based in St Albans, we move households across Hertfordshire, Luton, Essex and London. See our house removals service for more.
| Moving soon? Call 07903 494502 or request a free quote online. Tell us your moving date and both addresses, and we will take care of the heavy lifting while you work through the list. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell the DVLA when I move house?
Yes. You must update the address on your driving licence and your vehicle log book (V5C) when you move. It is free to do online, and you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell the DVLA about a change of address.
Do I need to register to vote again after moving?
Yes. Your registration is tied to your address, so you need to register again at your new home. You can do this online on GOV.UK in a few minutes.
Does a Royal Mail redirection update my address with companies?
No. A redirection only forwards post from your old address to your new one for the period you pay for. It does not change your address with anyone, so you still need to contact each organisation directly. The redirection is a safety net for the ones you miss.
When should I tell my energy supplier I am moving?
Tell your gas and electricity supplier a couple of weeks before you move, then give them final meter readings on moving day. Take photos of the meters at both your old and new home in case the readings are ever disputed.
Do I need to change my GP when I move house?
Only if your new address is outside your current practice’s area. Check with your practice. If you need to change, register with a GP near your new home as soon as you can, so you are not without one when you need it.
What happens if I don’t update my car insurance address?
Your address affects your premium, so not updating it can give your insurer grounds to reduce or refuse a claim. Tell your insurer before or on the day you move, even if the premium changes.
