You’ve made the decision. You’ve sorted the paperwork. The big move is definitely happening. Now is the time to think about all the little things that make the transition from one home to another as smooth as possible. For example, who to tell when you move. It’s a bigger list than you might think.
FAQs
Who should I tell when I move? A checklist
If you’re moving home, you should ideally tell every organisation that has your old address on file. From your bank and utility providers to governmental organisations like the NHS, they all need an up-to-date address.
The following is a useful checklist of all the main groups and individual organisations that you should update.
Financial companies
- Your bank or banks
- All utility providers – gas, electricity, water, internet,
- Insurance providers – Car, home, life insurance, etc
Government/local organisations
- Royal Mail – If you want to redirect your post
- HMRC – for tax reasons
- NHS
- The Electoral Roll – register to vote
- Your local council
- School/university where you or your children attend
- Any private medical clinic you may use – Dentist, optician, etc
Commercial companies
- Any store or outlet where you hold a membership or subscription service – Netflix, Amazon, etc
- Any private service providers you use – gardener, cleaner, accountant, solicitor, etc
Personal connections
- Your employer
- Your lawyer/solicitor
- Friends and family
Why is it important to update my address?
It’s important to update your address promptly because it can save you time and money later on. If commercial companies know how to contact you, communications will be quicker and easier. You won’t miss important information or opportunities to save money.
On the social side, keeping people up to date with your address makes it easier to stay in touch. While most of us rely on digital connections with friends these days, not everyone prefers to communicate online.
Finally, keeping an up-to-date address can protect you from identity theft and other kinds of fraud.
How does redirecting my post protect me from fraud?
Your physical post, and your address details, are valuable to fraudsters as a means of committing identity theft. Redirecting your post protects you from fraud by removing the physical means to commit this kind of crime.
To set up a false account with any number of commercial companies, fraudsters often need physical proof of address. Utility bills, mortgage updates, etc, these are documents they can use against you, if they are left at your old address.
How do I redirect my Royal Mail post?
Redirecting your post is a service that Royal Mail offer through their website. It’s a simple process with a step-by-step guide. Royal Mail charges anywhere from £33.99 to redirect your mail to any UK or overseas address for 3, 6 or 12 months.
There are other mail redirect services with cheaper monthly rates. However, be very careful when checking out these providers. There have been cases of enterprising thieves operating such services to steal post for use in further crimes.
How do I change my address for everything?
Sadly, in the UK there isn’t a simple way to change your address for everything all at once. Giving that depth of personal information to a single service provider would leave you very vulnerable to identity theft.
Every company and organisation will have a different system for requesting and processing a change of address. This means you simply have to contact them one by one and get through it. This is time-consuming but necessary for the protection of your identity and financial security.
What do I need to change my address when I move UK?
While different UK companies need different information to process your change of address, there are some common requirements. Obviously, you will need to provide details of the new address. You may need to provide physical evidence of this, such as utility bills or a council tax statement – anything official with your name and the address written on it.
You may also need to supply or confirm personal details on request, to prove it’s really you who’s making the change of address request. This may mean answering previously established security questions.
Do I need to change my will if I move address?
An out-of-date address won’t automatically invalidate a will. However, making sure the address is accurate will help avoid confusion later on. For example, if there is any kind of challenge to the will, an invalid address can slow the process down. To be sure, include your solicitor in the list of those who to tell when you move.
Do I need to change the address on my passport?
If you change address, you don’t need to change it on your passport. You simply have to wait until you want to renew your passport, and use the new address in your renewal application.
Since adult passports are valid for 10 years, you are not expected to update the address every time you move home.
Do I need to change my address to vote?
If you want to vote, it is essential to register your current address on the electoral roll. You must use your current address to vote legally in any local or national elections.
You can register to vote online using the link above. It usually takes about five minutes to complete the process.
Is it illegal to not update my address when I move?
If you fail to notify certain organisations when you move, you could be subject to a fine. If you’re a car owner, for example, a failure to notify the DVLA and update your vehicle ownership when you change address could land you a fine of up to £1,000. Similarly, having the wrong address on your driving licence is an offence and you could again be fined up to £1,000.
Hopefully, this checklist will be a useful reminder of who to tell when you move. If you’re planning a big move soon, check out our comprehensive guide to removal costs. This will help you get a jump on the planning, and possibly save you a few pennies along the way.
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