Change of Address Checklist UK at a Glance
A change of address is one of the most awkward parts of moving home. If you have not moved in a while, there is a lot to remember, and some bodies can be updated earlier than others. The table below is your complete change of address checklist for the UK: who to notify, when, and how, sorted by priority.
| Who to notify | Priority | When | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local council | Essential | On or just after move day | Online on your council's "moving home" page: close council tax at the old address, open it at the new one. |
| DVLA (driving licence + V5C) | Essential | As soon as you move | Free online via GOV.UK. Failing to update can mean a fine of up to £1,000. |
| HMRC | Essential | Within a few weeks | Online through your Government Gateway account; updates income tax and National Insurance records. |
| Bank, building society & credit cards | Essential | Close to move day | Online, in the app or in branch; protects you from identity fraud at the old address. |
| Energy supplier (gas & electricity) | Essential | At least 48 hours before | Contact your supplier to move your tariff or close the account; take meter readings on the day. |
| Water supplier | Essential | Around move day | Notify the supplier for your old and new area; you cannot choose your water company. |
| Broadband & TV provider | Essential | 2 to 4 weeks before | Move the service or shop for a new deal; a transfer fee of up to £60 may apply. |
| TV Licensing | Essential | Up to 3 months before | Free online address change; the licence does not move with you automatically. |
| GP, dentist & optician | Important | Once you have moved | Register with a new practice if you have moved out of the catchment area. |
| Employer & pension provider | Important | Before or on move day | Update HR and payroll so payslips and correspondence reach you. |
| DWP (benefits & State Pension) | Important | As soon as possible | Tell the Department for Work and Pensions so payments are not frozen. |
| Insurance providers | Important | Before move day | Home, contents, car, life, health and pet policies all need the new address. |
| Mortgage lender or landlord | Important | Before you move | Confirm your new address and any change to your tenancy or mortgage. |
| Royal Mail redirection | Safety net | Up to 3 months ahead | Paid service that forwards post; it buys time but does not replace telling each organisation. |
| Subscriptions & online accounts | Recreational | When convenient | Gym, streaming, retailers, magazines, loyalty schemes and pet microchip registry. |
In the sections below we go through each of these in detail. We have also included a downloadable Change of Address Checklist PDF for you to print out and tick off as you go.
How Do I Change the Address on My Utilities?
Going through the change of address process for your utilities can get complicated. Since your utilities are all provided by different companies, it can be stressful contacting each of them to cancel accounts and set new ones up.
Electricity and Gas
Before you make your move, you will need to either cancel your current energy account, or move your tariff to your new address. You will need to contact your energy company and let them know that you are moving to a new property.
If you have a dual-fuel tariff, you might be able to move both your electricity and gas, however you need to be sure you have a gas connection at your new home. If you wish to cancel your account, make sure you are out of contract so you can save on exit fees! Moving home is also the natural moment to compare energy tariffs if your old bills felt too high.
Water
You will need to notify your water supplier when you are planning on moving and whether you are moving to a new place in the same area, or if you are moving out of an area. If you are moving out of an area, you will need to close your water account and you will be given a final bill.
You cannot choose your water supplier, so you will not be able to take your tariff with you when you move homes. You will need to set up with your new water supplier as soon as you move in. Remember to take a water meter reading if you have a meter when you move out and when you move in.
How To Do a Change of Address for Household Services
Household services, like your broadband and TV licence, sit alongside your utilities and there can be a lot of them to update.
Broadband
If you are transferring your broadband packages to your new address, your provider can set you up at your new home once you tell them the move-in date. At a convenient time they will install a fibre optic broadband router to get you online quickly. If you do decide to move your broadband, you might be asked to pay a moving fee that could cost up to £60.
If your broadband bills felt too high at your old address, check whether you are still in contract. If not, this is the moment to compare broadband deals and find a better price at your new property.
Be aware of exit fees! If you want to cancel your current broadband deal but you are still in contract, you might have to pay a high exit fee in order to leave it. This exit fee usually becomes cheaper from month to month, but it is best avoided if you can help it.
TV Licence
Your TV licence will not be valid when you move to a new property, so you will have to change this information on the TV Licensing website. The TV licence change of address process can be done up to 3 months in advance of your move, and you can change your TV licence online for free.
You could be prosecuted and fined £1,000 if you watch, record or download programmes without a valid licence at your home. If you do not already have a TV licence, then you need to get one!
If you already had one at your old address, do not assume it will move with you to your new home. You will need to update your details so the TV Licensing authority can ensure you are correctly licensed at your new house.
Do I Need To Let My Local Council Know I Have Moved?
Yes. You need to inform your current local council when you are moving out so you can sort out your council tax, electoral roll, and your pension and benefits if you receive them.
Updating Council Tax
If you are moving to a different area, you will need to cancel your council tax contribution with your current local authority and set it up with the new one. You will also need to update your direct debit details.
If you are moving within the same area, you can keep the details the same, however your property might be in a different Tax Band, so your bill might increase or decrease.
Use your local council's "moving home" section on its website to update your details. After you have cancelled your council tax, you will receive a final bill for your last contribution.
Registering on the Electoral Roll
In order to vote in your new area, you will need to register again. You can do this on the government's Register to Vote service and fill in the online form. You cannot be registered in two places, so when you register again you will be taken off the register in your previous area.
Sorting Out Benefits and Pensions
If you receive benefits or your State Pension from the government, you must make sure the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is aware of your move. If you do not, it is possible your payments could be frozen.
How Do I Update My Tax, HMRC and Employment Details?
As well as your bank details and council tax, you must also make sure your tax and employment details are up to date. This means updating your records with HMRC, including your income tax and National Insurance, and letting your employer know that you have moved.
Updating HMRC, Tax and National Insurance
You can update your income tax and National Insurance details with HMRC on the same government service. You will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use the online process. If you do not have one, you can create an account, then fill in your new address and your tax records will be updated.
Informing Your Employer
Your employer or HR department will need to update your contact details to send you any correspondence regarding your contract. The payroll department certainly needs updating to ensure there are no complications in paying your wages or sending your pay slips.
Update your Insurance Policies! Make sure you have updated your address on all your insurance policies such as life insurance, home or contents insurance, health insurance, and pet insurance.
Find out more in our Insurance Guides!
Changing Your Banking Address
Informing your bank about your change of address should be towards the top of your priority list, preferably as close as possible to your move date. Not only will they change your billing address for any payments you make, but doing so can also protect you from identity fraud.
If your bank continues to send bank statements to your old address, whoever replaces you may simply throw them away, perhaps in a public bin. Wherever they end up, they could fall into the wrong hands.
You can do a change of address with your bank online, through the app, or by popping into your local branch to tell them you are moving home.
How Can I Do a DVLA Change of Address?
It is extremely important to remember to do a DVLA change of address to make sure your driving licence is up to date with your new details. Drivers have been warned they could face a £1,000 fine if they fail to inform the DVLA of a driving licence change of address.
What is the DVLA? The DVLA stands for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The DVLA is a government agency that maintains a record of all the vehicle registrations and licensing in the UK. It is sponsored by the Department for Transport.
What Do I Need for a DVLA Change of Address?
In order to change address with the DVLA, you will need to have:
- your driving licence;
- British citizenship or residency;
- your addresses for the last 3 years;
- your National Insurance number.
You also must not have been banned from driving, and your new address must be within the United Kingdom. You might also need to change the photo on your licence if it is going to run out soon.
How Do I Change My DVLA Address Online?
The easiest way to complete a DVLA change of address is online on the government's website. You will find a step-by-step guide on how to change your address on your driving licence, and you can complete the entire process online for free.
What About a DVLA V5 Change of Address?
You must also change the address on your vehicle log book or V5C. This is a document that includes your vehicle's registration details. You can easily update it using the government's online form.
In order to change your V5C address, you will need:
- to be the registered keeper;
- your registration number (number plate);
- the reference number on your log book.
Do not forget to update your vehicle tax details! If you pay via direct debit, you will also need to update your change of address details for your payments. This includes making sure your vehicle tax is up to date with all the correct information. If you have changed your direct debit details, you will also need to update those.
Do I Need to Tell My GP, Dentist and Schools?
If you are moving out of your current area, you should update your healthcare and education records so nothing important is delayed.
GP, Dentist and Optician
If you move outside your practice's catchment area, you will need to register with a new GP, dentist and optician near your new home. Even if you stay in the same area, update your address so prescriptions, appointment letters and screening invitations reach you.
Schools and Childcare
Tell your children's school or childcare provider as early as possible. If you are moving to a new catchment area, contact the new local authority about school places, as availability can vary and waiting lists are common at popular schools.
Should I Set Up a Royal Mail Redirection?
A Royal Mail redirection is a paid service that forwards post from your old address to your new one for a set period, typically 3, 6 or 12 months. It is a sensible safety net while you work through your checklist, so that anything you forget still reaches you.
A redirection is not a substitute for telling each organisation directly, because it is only temporary. You can usually set one up up to 3 months ahead of your move, and it can take a few working days to start.
Recreational Subscriptions and Online Accounts
Log in to your online bank account and bring up a list of all the recurring payments that come out of your account. Although you may already have updated your billing address at your bank, any organisations you subscribe to should know of your change of address so they can continue your service.
These are some of the most common accounts people forget when they move home:
- gym or sports club;
- Amazon and other online retailers;
- magazine and meal-kit subscriptions;
- streaming services such as Netflix;
- loyalty cards and reward schemes;
- your pet microchip registry.
Change of Address Checklist: Frequently Asked Questions
By law you must tell the DVLA (driving licence and V5C log book), HMRC and your local council for council tax and the electoral roll. Failing to update the DVLA can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Everything else, from your bank to your broadband, is strongly recommended but not a legal requirement.
Begin about one month before moving day. Services such as your TV licence and a Royal Mail redirection can be arranged up to three months in advance, while energy suppliers usually want at least 48 hours notice. Banks, the DVLA and HMRC are best updated on or shortly after the day you move.
No. A Royal Mail redirection only forwards your post to the new address for a set period. It is a useful safety net so nothing goes astray, but it is temporary, so you still need to contact each organisation directly to update your details permanently.
Change your driving licence address for free on the GOV.UK website, then update your V5C vehicle log book separately. You will need your licence, your addresses for the last three years and your National Insurance number. Remember to update your vehicle tax direct debit too.
Yes. Notify your old council to close your council tax account, and your new council to open one. If you move within the same area your band may change. You also need to re-register on the electoral roll, as you cannot be registered in two places at once.
If you are happy with your deal and out of contract you can move the tariff to your new home. If your bills felt too high, moving is the natural moment to compare energy tariffs and switch. Always take meter readings on the day and check for exit fees before cancelling.