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Moving & Removals

If you’re moving, you will need to change your address. Sounds simple right? Wrong.

There are a lot of people and government bodies that you need to tell and having a bill, or credit card statement fall through the cracks is downright risky. That’s why we are giving you the rundown of who you need to inform below.

We have even created this handy downloadable changing address checklist for you. 

Redirecting your mail


Whether you are moving within the UK or abroad, Royal Mail’s redirection service redirects all mail to your new address. You can apply for this service up to 3 months before your move. It takes about 10 days to come into effect. You can redirect your mail for 3, 6 or 12 months. 

To set up a redirection you will need:

  • a royal mail account
  • names and dates of birth of everyone in the household that needs their mail redirected
  • address and postcode of both your old and new addresses
  • a valid credit or debit card

Why should I redirect my mail after a change of Address? 

Temporarily

If you head to warmer climates during winter months, mail getting delivered and left in the mailbox alerts people that you’re probably not home. Fraudsters look for opportunities like these. Redirecting your mail keeps you, and your valuable mail safe. 

Not only that, mail is how we communicate with businesses and services. You want to make sure you aren’t ever missing out on important notices, or changes to your accounts or private affairs.

Permanently 

If you’re moving address, here, or abroad, you may be too busy dealing with the logistics of the move itself, or closing details of your new home. The redirection service can buy you valuable time. It can also act as a safety net for anyone you may have forgotten to inform. It can take months to realise you haven’t heard from a friend or colleague and realise you forgot to give them your new address. You want to make sure that important contacts and relationships are not lost. Better safe than sorry right? 

Change of Address – Who do I need to tell?

There is quite a long list to remember. Some may only require a quick online address change while others may require written notice in advance. 

Friends and family 

Make sure to let your loved ones know of your new address. Relatives and even co-workers who send out yearly Christmas cards or party invitations will want to update their address books. This is usually the longest list so it may seem overwhelming. We suggest the following steps: 

  1. Make 2 lists, one for friends, one for family.
  2. For each person listed, write email or phone. This is how you will contact them.
  3. Check them off the list once you have told them of your address change.

Work and education 

  • Employer: You’ll need to inform your current employer of your move. Don’t forget to give a heads up to any colleagues, important clients, and alumni networks. 
  • School: If you have children, don’t forget to update your address with any education or day care providers. 

Government Authorities

We’ve compiled a pretty comprehensive list for you to follow. Some authorities like visa and immigration can charge you for not having an up to date address, so be careful not to forget anyone important. Although not everyone’s list will be the same, we’ve provided some of the most common (and important) authorities below: 

  • Visa and Immigration
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Use this service to update your address for:
    • Income tax
    • National insurance
    • State pension
    • tax credits and child Benefit
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and V5C Vehicle Log 
  • Electoral roll If you are already registered to vote, you’ll need to re-register once you move. Registering to vote online is the easiest and quickest way. It only takes five minutes, and all you need is your national insurance number (NI). 
  • Council Tax 

Financial Institutions

Mail with sensitive information in it can put you at risk. It’s important that banking and credit statements be sent to your new address. Yet another reason to go paperless. In the meantime, make sure to change your address with the following: 

  • Banking: You can usually update this information online. Make sure the change applies to credit and debit cards. 
  • Investment funds
  • Mortgage provider 

Insurance Providers

To inform insurers of your address change, you’ll have to visit their individual websites or call them directly. Below is a list of the insurers you should contact: 

  • National Insurance
  • Health Insurance 
  • Life Insurance 
  • Home Insurance 
  • Car Insurance 
  • Pet Insurance

Other Services

  • Accountant  
  • Solicitor
  • Cleaning service 
  • Grocery delivery 

Media Providers

  • Broadband / Cable / Satellite: If you are sticking with the same service provider, call them at least 2 months in advance so they can start the transfer process to the new address on moving day, eliminating any wait time. If you’ve finished out your contract with your current provider, it’s worth it to do some research and shop around, as some providers will make it worthwhile to switch over.
  • TV Licensing: When you move addresses, your TV license doesn’t automatically move with you. It’s free and easy to do online. 

Utility Providers

Let your utilities providers know the exact date you’ll be moving. You should take meter readings and photographs that are date-stamped. Do this for both your old and new home. This ensures that you aren’t unfairly charged for utilities you haven’t used. If you are happy with the company you are with, you can usually call them and ask them to transfer your account to your new address. They should deal with all the red tape for you. Don’t forget to contact: 

  • Water supplier
  • Gas provider
  • Electricity provider
  • Any other suppliers like septic tank or wood delivery

Some people take a house move as a chance to negotiate existing contracts, or get a few quotes from the competition.

Health Services

You should tell your health care providers plenty in advance. Especially if you will be needing a new local family doctor, the process of finding a new can take time. 

  • Doctor / Family GP
  • Dentist
  • Optician
  • Specialists
  • Vet including pet microchip databases

Leisure

Make sure your subscriptions are up-to-date and share your new address with any other organisations that might contact you via mail. 

  • Newspaper, magazine and newsletter subscriptions
  • Health club / gym
  • Charities

Also don’t forget to update your new address for any delivery services you use often (Amazon, UberEats etc) to avoid having items sent to your old address. 

We hope that our expert tips helped create a smooth transition. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to download our checklist. Staying organised is key to not missing anything. You can thank us later!

Removal Company after a Change of Address

Here at Southlondonmovers.co.uk, we offer professional removals throughout London with our award winning service. For more information about the services we offer, get in touch with us today – contact our team.