MoneyGuide

Moving house checklist – 10 things you need to do when you move in

By Hazel Cottrell hazel.cottrell@consumerchoices.co.uk

Are you moving house? Here’s a handy checklist of 10 things you need to do when you move into your new home (Updated 18/12/09).

To make life a bit easier, and ensure you don’t forget anything crucial, here’s a list of the top 10 things you need to do when you move in.

1. Sort out your home phone

When you move house, you can either transfer your existing home phone service or choose a new provider. Both options should be fairly straightforward, but there can be costs involved.

If the phone line in your new home hasn’t been connected, you will need to get it reactivated. If your new house doesn’t have a phone line, you will need to have one installed.

Prices for line reactivation and line installation vary between providers, so you should shop around to get the best deal. See our guide to connecting your phone line when moving house for more information.

2. Sort out your broadband

It’s worth shopping around and comparing broadband deals to find one that best suits your needs at the best price.

For example, if speed is very important to you, Virgin Media offers the fastest speeds on its cable service. If price is your major consideration, its worth considering Plusnet or TalkTalk, both of which have low-cost broadband deals.

You should also consider bundling your broadband with your home phone and digital TV services to get the best deal.

Compare broadband deals available in your new home or check out our broadband expert's advice on moving house with broadband

3. Switch to the cheapest energy supplier

On the day you move in, you need to take a gas and electricity meter reading. Keep a copy of these safe as you will need to give them to your energy supplier, to ensure you only pay for what you use.

If you don’t know who currently supplies gas to your new home, you can call the gas meter helpline on 0870 608 1524. To find out who supplies electricity to the house, you’ll need to contact the local electricity distribution company – its number will be in the telephone directory under “electricity”.

When you move into your new home, your energy supply will be under a “deemed contract”. This means that the gas and electricity supplier for the previous owner will automatically become yours. This may not necessarily be the best supplier for your usage, or the area, so be sure to check using our energy comparison calculator. You might be able to save hundreds by switching to a cheaper provider or tariff.

Compare energy tariffs available in your new area or check out our energy expert's advice on sorting out your energy when moving house

4. Get insured

If you have taken out a mortgage on your home, it’s likely you will already have had to take out buildings insurance as a condition of the mortgage, and may have taken out life insurance or mortgage payment protection insurance too.

However, whether you own or rent your house, you also need to think about insuring your belongings with contents insurance. This covers the contents of your property, including your furniture and electrical goods, against damage or loss.

If you own a car, you’ll need to contact your car insurance provider to update your policy with your new address. This may affect your premiums, but if you fail to do it and later have an accident, you may find you are not covered. You will also need to contact the DVLA to update your driving licence details.

5. Sort out your council tax and water bill

You can find your new local council’s details on the government’s website (www.direct.gov.uk). Tell your new council when you moved in, so they can start your bill from the right date. There are many different ways you may be able to pay your council tax bill, including by post, phone, direct debit, standing order and even online.

As for your water, if you don’t know who you supplier is you can find out on the Consumer Council for Water website (www.ccwater.org.uk). You cannot choose or change your water supplier, so you simply need to contact them, give them the date you moved in and set up your payments. You can usually choose to pay the bill in one go, in two separate chunks, or in monthly instalments.

6. Transfer your TV licence

If you already have a TV licence, you’ll need to transfer it to your new address. Otherwise, you’ll need to get a new TV licence. You can do both of these things on the TV licensing website (www.tvlicensing.co.uk) or by calling 0844 800 6790.

If you have Sky or Virgin Media digital TV, check out our guide, digital TV options when moving house.

7. Tell everyone who needs to know

It’s crucial to make sure your address details have been updated in all the right places. As well as telling your friends and family, you need to inform your bank, credit card supplier and any other company from which you receive regular post, that you have moved house. You’ll also need to tell your employer, and update your details on the electoral register (www.aboutmyvote.co.uk).

8. Do the right thing with old post

If mail arrives that is addressed to previous occupants don’t just throw it away. Instead, mark it “return to sender” and pop it back in the post box – you don’t even need a stamp.

Doing this should help you avoid getting involved in problems relating to previous tenants, for example if they had fallen behind on debt repayments.

You might also want to consider getting your own post redirected from your old address for three months after you move. This should cost less than £20 per surname and can be arranged on the Royal Mail website (www.royalmail.com).

9. Check your credit report

These days, a good credit rating is worth its weight in gold so you should check your credit report fairly regularly to ensure it is correct. However, it’s especially important to check it after you have moved house.

If previous occupants have a bad credit history this may impact on your credit score. To remedy this, you should contact the credit reference agencies and request that they remove information on your file if it is incorrect or relates to people who have no financial connection to you.

Download our complete guide to credit reports

10. Write up a new budget

Working out a budget, and sticking to it, is the best way to keep in control of your finances. If this is the first time you have lived away from home then it is especially important that you prepare yourself for financial independence.

Writing down all your outgoings – including mortgage payments, utility bills and the cost of food, clothes and your social life – and comparing this to your income, should give you a good idea of where you stand financially.

For tips on cutting your outgoings in every area of your life, download our complete guide to saving money without giving up the things you love.

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