Your moving house checklist UK 2027

A good moving house checklist breaks your move into manageable stages, so you always know what to do next. This moving home checklist runs from eight weeks before your move to the end of your first week in your new home. Print it out, stick it on the fridge and tick off each job as you go.

For background on each stage, see our complete guide to moving house in the UK and our moving house tips.

8 weeks before your move

This is the planning stage. The earlier you book, the more choice you have.

• Confirm your likely moving or completion date
• Set a moving budget using our removal costs in the UK guide
• Request quotes and book a home survey with a removal company
• Decide whether you want a packing service or will pack yourself
• Start decluttering the loft, garage and shed
• Sell, donate or recycle items you do not want to move
• If renting, check your notice period and give notice in writing
• If you have children, contact your new local authority about school places
• Start a moving folder for contracts, quotes and key contacts

4 weeks before your move

Now the practical preparation begins.

• Confirm your booking and moving date with your removal company
• Order boxes, tape and wrap from our Box Shop
• Start packing rooms you use least, such as the spare room
• Arrange self storage if your dates do not line up
• Tell your energy, water and broadband providers your moving date
• Book broadband installation at the new property, as this can take a few weeks
• Tell your local council about your move for council tax
• Review your home and contents insurance (see our home insurance guide)
• Measure large furniture and doorways at the new property
• Arrange care for pets on moving day if needed (see moving house with a cat or dog)

2 weeks before your move

Time to confirm details and update your address.

• Confirm arrival time, access and parking with your removal company
• Apply for a parking permit or bay suspension if your street needs one
• Set up post redirection with Royal Mail
• Update your address with your bank, employer and pension provider
• Tell your GP, dentist and optician you are moving
• Notify TV Licensing of your new address
• Return library books and anything borrowed
• Run down your freezer and food cupboards
• Keep packing, room by room

For a full list of organisations to contact, read who to inform when moving house.

1 week before your move

Most of your home should now be packed.

• Pack all but your daily essentials
• Label each box with its room and contents on two sides
• Prepare an essentials box for the first night
• Dismantle furniture you are taking apart yourself and bag the fixings
• Confirm key collection time with your estate agent or landlord
• Arrange childcare for moving day if you can
• Clean areas that are already empty
• Withdraw a little cash for small expenses on the day

The day before your move

Keep this day calm and focused.

• Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer
• Pack the last kitchen and bathroom items
• Charge your phone and power bank
• Put keys, documents, medication and valuables in one bag
• Pack an overnight bag for each family member
• Load your essentials box into your car
• Get a good night's sleep

Moving day

Use this moving day checklist to stay on track.

• Strip the beds and pack bedding
• Walk the removal team through the property
• Point out fragile items and anything that is not coming
• Take meter readings and photos at the old property
• Check cupboards, loft, shed and garage are empty
• Lock up and hand over keys
• Take meter readings at the new property
• Direct boxes to the right rooms
• Check items against your inventory
• Make up the beds

Your first week in your new home

The move is done, but a few jobs remain.

• Unpack the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms first
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Find the stopcock, fuse box and meters
• Change the locks if you have bought the property
• Update your driving licence and vehicle log book with DVLA
• Register to vote at your new address
• Register with a new GP and dentist if you have moved area
• Update online shopping accounts and subscriptions
• Recycle or store empty boxes
• Explore your new area

What moving out looks like in different UK cities

Where you live changes the practical side of moving day. Parking, building access, low emission rules and the student calendar all affect when you should book and what your removal company needs to know. Here is what to add to your checklist in eight of the UK's biggest cities.

1. London

• Apply for a parking bay suspension from your borough council, as each borough sets its own notice period and fees
• Check whether either address is on a red route, where stopping is restricted
• The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all London boroughs, so check your own car or hire van with Transport for London before moving day
• Tell your removal company about lifts, concierge booking rules and stair access in flats and mansion blocks

Our guide to removal costs in London explains how these factors affect price.

2. Manchester

• Book a parking suspension through Manchester City Council or your local council in Greater Manchester if your street has permit bays
• Greater Manchester does not operate a charging clean air zone
• Areas such as Fallowfield and Withington get busy with student moves at the end of June, so book early if you are moving then
• Many apartment buildings around Ancoats and Salford Quays ask you to book the goods lift and a loading slot in advance

3. Birmingham

• Birmingham's Clean Air Zone charges non-compliant cars and vans, so check your vehicle on GOV.UK before driving in
• Contact Birmingham City Council about suspending parking bays near your home
• Selly Oak and Harborne fill up with student moves at the end of the academic year

4. Edinburgh

• Tenement flats in areas such as Marchmont, Leith and Bruntsfield have shared stairs and no lifts, so tell your removal company the floor and stair width
• The Low Emission Zone is enforced with penalty notices, so check your own vehicle on the Low Emission Zones Scotland website
• Parking dispensations come from the City of Edinburgh Council, and August festival events can limit space in some streets
• Pickfords offers free collection for drive-up and container storage in Edinburgh

5. Glasgow

• West End tenements in Hyndland, Partick and Hillhead often mean several flights of stairs and a long carry
• The Glasgow Low Emission Zone is enforced with penalty notices for non-compliant vehicles
• Student moves around Hillhead and the University of Glasgow peak at the end of the academic year

6. Bristol

• Bristol's Clean Air Zone charges non-compliant cars and vans, so check your vehicle before moving day
• Steep, narrow streets in Clifton, Totterdown and Cotham may need a smaller vehicle or a shuttle service
• Redland and Cotham see heavy student traffic in late June
• Apply to Bristol City Council for a parking suspension in residents' parking zones

7. Leeds

• Leeds does not operate a charging clean air zone
• Headingley and Hyde Park are busy with student move-outs from late June, and back-to-back terraces can make parking tight
• Contact Leeds City Council for parking bay suspensions

8. Cardiff

• Cathays and Roath fill with student moves at the end of the academic year
• Road closures on match and event days at the Principality Stadium can affect routes, so check the events calendar before you book
• Apply to Cardiff Council if you need a parking bay suspended

Wherever you are moving, check whether you need self storage near your home, with local facilities in cities including London, Leeds, Glasgow and Cardiff. If you are a student, our guide to moving out of student accommodation has more detail.

Checklists for other types of move

This checklist covers a standard home move. Some moves need extra steps, and these guides cover them:

• Smaller home: if you are downsizing your home, start decluttering earlier and measure your new rooms before deciding on furniture.
• Moving abroad: international moves need longer lead times for shipping, customs and paperwork. Pickfords moves families worldwide, including removals to and from Australia, the USA, Canada and New Zealand.
• Moving across the UK: long distance moving usually means booking further ahead and planning for an overnight stop or a two-day move.
• Pets: moving house with a cat or dog covers settling pets in, microchip updates and a moving day plan.
• Large or valuable items: for furniture removals, including oversized sofas, antiques and pianos, mention every item at your home survey.

How to use this checklist

Every move is different, so adjust the timings to suit you. If you are moving in a hurry, combine the eight-week and four-week lists and prioritise booking your removal company. If you are packing yourself, our guide on how to pack your house for a move will help. To understand typical timescales from offer to completion, read how long does moving house take.

Frequently asked questions

• What do people most often forget when moving house?

Common gaps are redirecting post, cancelling regular deliveries, taking final meter readings and checking the loft and shed. Keeping a list of who to notify and working through it two weeks before the move helps you catch these.

• How do I make sure the removal lorry has somewhere to park?

Ask your council about a parking bay suspension or dispensation as early as you can, as notice periods vary. If there are no restrictions, ask neighbours to leave space and tell your removal company about any narrow access at your survey.

• How far in advance should I start a moving house checklist?

Start around eight weeks before your move, or as soon as you have a likely date. Long distance and summer moves benefit from an even earlier start.

• When should I tell my utility providers I am moving?

Give suppliers at least two weeks' notice, and take meter readings on the day you leave and the day you arrive. This helps make sure your final bills are accurate.

• Do I need to tell DVLA when I move house?

Yes. GOV.UK says you must update the address on your driving licence and vehicle log book when you move. Updating your licence address is free.

• What should go in a first night box?

Pack toiletries, toilet roll, medication, chargers, bedding, a change of clothes, a kettle, mugs, snacks and a few basic tools. Keep it with you rather than in the van.

• Can I print this checklist?

Yes. Use your browser's print option to print this page, or save it as a PDF to tick off on your phone.

Start your move with Pickfords

With over 400 years of experience, our expert team can help with every item on this checklist, from packing to storage. Request a free quote for your upcoming move today.