Your Complete UK Moving House Checklist
A UK house move takes about eight weeks to organise properly, across seven stages from 8–10 weeks out to your first week in the new home. Budget £1,500–£5,000 all in for a move involving a sale and a purchase; mail redirection alone starts at £35 for three months.
Don't leave anything to chance. Follow this timeline to keep your move on track.
Tip: use the Print this checklist button at the top of this page to print it or save as a PDF.
8–10 Weeks Before
- Use our calculator to estimate your moving cost
- Get quotes from at least 3 removal companies
- Notify your landlord (if renting) - typically 1–2 months' notice
- Start your change-of-address list
- Research schools if moving to a new area
- Begin decluttering room by room
6–8 Weeks Before
- Confirm your removal company and pay any deposit
- Start collecting packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
- Arrange mail redirection with Royal Mail (from £35 for 3 months)
- Contact utility suppliers (gas, electric, water, broadband)
- Notify your council about Council Tax
- Book time off work for moving day
4–6 Weeks Before
- Start packing non-essential items (books, seasonal clothes, decorations)
- Label every box: room + contents + fragile if applicable
- Arrange parking permits or suspensions for moving day
- Update your address with bank, DVLA, GP, dentist, employer
- Measure doorways and tight spots at the new property
- Confirm lift or access arrangements at apartments
2 Weeks Before
- Confirm all details with your removal company (time, address, access, special items)
- Create an essentials box: kettle, mugs, toilet roll, phone charger, basic tools
- Take meter readings at current property
- Check contents insurance covers the move (or get removals insurance)
- Pack a first-night bag with overnight essentials
1 Week Before
- Finish packing all rooms
- Dismantle any furniture that needs it
- Defrost freezer
- Clean current property (if required for deposit return)
- Confirm key collection/handover arrangements
Moving Day
- Take final meter readings at old property
- Be present to direct the removal crew
- Do a final walk-through of old property (check all rooms, loft, shed, garage)
- Lock up and hand over keys
- Take meter readings at new property
- Direct crew at new property - tell them which room each box goes in
First Week in New Home
- Register with the electoral roll at your new address
- Register with a new GP if you've moved area
- Test all utilities (gas, water, electric, broadband)
- Check for any damage during the move and report within 7 days
- Update your address with remaining contacts
What moving house costs
The move itself is only part of the bill. A typical UK house move comes to £1,500-£5,000 all in once you add conveyancing, surveys, stamp duty and the fees nobody warns you about - and the removal company is rarely more than 10% of it.
For the full stage-by-stage breakdown, with every fee, when it falls due and a worked example for a 3-bed semi, see our moving house fees checklist.
Use our moving cost calculator to estimate the removal-company portion of your budget in 60 seconds.