Moving Admin Is the Part Everyone Forgets
Booking the removal van is the easy bit. The tasks that actually cause stress on moving day are the admin ones: meter readings, broadband transfers, council tax, changing your address with the bank. Miss them and you end up paying for someone else's energy, losing internet for three weeks, or getting fined for unpaid council tax.
This guide breaks the whole job into a timeline so you know exactly what to do and when. Work through it in order and nothing slips through the cracks.
4-6 Weeks Before You Move
Start the slow-moving jobs early - anything involving a third party or an installation date.
- Book your broadband move or switch. Providers need 2+ weeks' notice; new-line installs can take longer. Decide whether to transfer your contract or switch providers (check exit fees).
- Give notice to your landlord (if renting) in line with your tenancy agreement.
- Tell your energy suppliers you're moving and give them your move date.
- Book a Royal Mail Redirection to start from your moving day.
- Research your new energy supplier so you're ready to switch once you've settled in.
2 Weeks Before You Move
This is the notification phase - tell everyone who needs your new address.
Utilities to sort
| Utility | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gas & electricity | Notify current supplier of move-out date; arrange account at new home |
| Water | Tell your water company you're leaving and set up the new account |
| Broadband & phone | Confirm transfer/install date |
| TV licence | Update your address (it doesn't move automatically) |
| Council tax | Notify old and new councils of your dates |
People and organisations to notify
- Banks, building societies and credit cards
- Employer and pension provider
- DVLA - driving licence and V5C logbook (you must update both)
- GP, dentist and optician
- Insurance providers - home, car, life, pet (your premium may change)
- HMRC - especially if self-employed
- Schools / childcare
- Subscriptions and deliveries - anything sent to your door
Moving Week
- Confirm the removal company time, address and access details. Need a baseline price? Use our moving cost calculator.
- Run down perishables in the fridge and freezer.
- Pack an essentials box (see below).
- Charge devices and locate chargers.
- Confirm parking at both ends - tell the removals team about any restrictions.
Moving Day: the Meter-Reading Routine
This is the single most important money-saving task of the whole move.
At the old property, before you leave:
- Photograph the gas meter, electricity meter and water meter (if you have one).
- Note the date and time.
- Send the readings to your old suppliers so your final bill stops on the right day.
At the new property, when you arrive:
- Photograph the same meters straightaway.
- Find out who currently supplies the property (the "deemed" supplier) and open an account from your move-in date.
- Locate the stopcock, fuse box and gas shut-off while you're looking.
Photos protect you from disputes - you can prove exactly how much energy was used before and after you took over.
Your Essentials Box (Open First)
Pack one clearly labelled box you keep with you, not on the van:
- Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, snacks
- Phone chargers and a power bank
- Toilet roll, hand soap, towel
- Basic tools (screwdriver, scissors, tape)
- Medications and a small first-aid kit
- Important documents (tenancy/completion paperwork, ID)
- A change of clothes and toiletries
First Week in Your New Home
- Switch energy supplier if you found a better deal - you're free to switch away from the deemed supplier immediately.
- Test the broadband and report any faults early.
- Set up your council tax account if you haven't already.
- Update your address on anything you missed (loyalty cards, online shops).
- Register with a local GP and dentist.
- Check smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and replace batteries.
Choosing Broadband and Energy for the New Home
Moving is the one point where switching costs you almost nothing extra: you are setting up both services at the new address anyway. Two things to check before you commit:
- Exit fees on your current contracts. Some providers let you take the contract with you; others charge to leave early. Ask before you assume either.
- Lead times. Broadband needs at least two weeks' notice; energy can be switched as soon as you have moved in, away from whoever supplies the property on day one.
Price at least two providers for each. As one option among several, the co-operative movement runs both:
- Your Co-op Broadband runs over the Openreach network, on 24-month contracts with no price rises during the contract and no setup fee. When we checked on 4 October 2026, packages started at £35 a month for 66.5 Mbps, up to £55 a month for 900 Mbps where full fibre is available. It asks for at least two weeks' notice of a move.
- Your Co-op Energy is supplied in partnership with Octopus Energy. It offers an 18-month fixed tariff (with a £50 exit fee per fuel), a flexible tariff with no exit fees, and a Community Power tariff supplying electricity from community-owned generators.
Whichever you choose, take meter readings on the day you move in (see the routine above), so your first bill starts from the right figures.
Quick "Who to Tell" Checklist
- Gas & electricity suppliers (old and new)
- Water company
- Broadband / phone provider
- Council tax (old and new council)
- TV Licensing
- Bank, credit cards, building society
- DVLA (licence + V5C)
- Employer & pension
- HMRC
- GP, dentist, optician
- Home, car and other insurers
- Schools / childcare
- Royal Mail Redirection set up
- Subscriptions and regular deliveries
Work through this list and your move will be remembered for the new home, not the admin headaches. Start by pricing the physical move with our free calculator, then plan your packing with the packing boxes calculator.