Who to Inform When You Move Home

At Towerstone, we provide specialist property accountancy services for homeowners, landlords, and property investors. This article explains the key points you need to understand around this topic.

Moving house is one of those life events that creates a long trail of admin. Most people focus on the physical move, packing boxes, removals, keys, and then realise weeks later that important organisations still think they live at the old address. That is when missed letters, fines, lost parcels, and stress start to appear.

In the UK there is no single place where you can update your address and have it cascade automatically. You must notify multiple organisations individually, and some of them are far more important than others. Missing a few can be inconvenient. Missing the wrong ones can lead to penalties, credit issues, or legal problems.

In this guide I will walk through exactly who you should notify when moving house in the UK, explain why each one matters, and suggest a practical order to tackle the process. This is written to be genuinely useful, not just a checklist, and reflects the real world consequences of getting it wrong.

Start with the organisations that can penalise you

Some organisations must be told promptly because failing to update your address can lead to fines or enforcement action. These should be at the top of your list.

HMRC

HMRC must be notified when you move house.

This includes your address for income tax, self assessment, tax credits if applicable, and any correspondence they send you.

If HMRC write to your old address and you miss a deadline, they will not usually accept moving house as an excuse.

You can update your address online through your personal tax account or by contacting them directly.

This is particularly important if you file Self Assessment returns, receive child benefit, or have any ongoing tax matters.

DVLA

DVLA must be told about your new address.

You need to update:

• Your driving licence

• Your vehicle log book (V5C)

These are two separate updates and both are legally required.

Failing to update your driving licence address can result in a fine. Failing to update the V5C is also an offence and often leads to missed penalty notices for speeding or parking which then escalate.

You can update both online, and it is free.

Local council

Your local council needs to be notified for several reasons.

Council tax is the main one. You must tell the council when you move out of one property and when you move into another, even if both are in the same council area.

You may also need to update:

• Electoral roll

• Parking permits

• Bin collection records

• Local services

Council tax bills sent to the wrong address can quickly lead to arrears and enforcement, so this should be done early.

Utilities and essential household services

Next come the organisations that keep your home running. These are often overlooked or left until after the move, which can cause unnecessary charges or disputes.

Gas and electricity suppliers

You should notify your gas and electricity suppliers for both the old and new property.

On moving day, take meter readings at the old address and the new one. Provide these readings to the suppliers to ensure final bills are accurate.

Failing to do this can result in being charged for energy you did not use or disputes that take months to resolve.

If you are switching suppliers at the new address, you still need to notify the existing supplier first.

Water supplier

Water companies also need to be told when you move.

Unlike gas and electricity, you cannot usually choose your water supplier. The supplier is based on location.

Notify them of your move, provide meter readings if applicable, and set up your new account.

Broadband and landline

Broadband often causes the most frustration because it is not always transferable between addresses.

You should contact your provider well in advance to:

• Arrange a move

• Check availability at the new address

• Avoid early termination charges

• Minimise downtime

Do not assume your service will just move with you.

TV licence

TV Licensing must be updated.

You can transfer your TV licence to your new address online. If you forget, you may receive enforcement letters at the wrong address or leave the new occupiers dealing with your licence.

Financial institutions and credit related organisations

This category is critical for protecting your credit history and avoiding missed payments.

Banks and building societies

Notify all banks and building societies where you hold accounts.

This includes:

• Current accounts

• Savings accounts

• Mortgages

• Credit cards

• Loans

Even if you use online banking and paperless statements, your address is still used for identity checks and security.

An incorrect address can lead to blocked accounts or failed verification.

Credit card providers and lenders

Credit card companies and loan providers must be updated separately even if they are linked to your bank.

Missing statements or notices can lead to missed payments and damage your credit score.

Credit reference agencies

While you do not notify credit reference agencies directly, updating your address with banks and lenders will eventually update your credit file.

It is also sensible to check your credit report after moving to ensure the address is correct.

Being on the electoral roll at your new address also helps with credit scoring.

Insurance providers

Insurance is an area where failing to update your address can invalidate cover.

Home insurance

You need to update your buildings and contents insurance.

If you are moving to a new property, you will usually need a new policy or a transferred policy with updated details.

Leaving insurance registered to the old address can mean you are uninsured at the new one.

Car insurance

Car insurance providers must be notified of your address change.

Premiums can change based on location, even within the same town.

Failing to update your address can invalidate your policy in the event of a claim.

Other insurance policies

Also notify providers for:

• Life insurance

• Health insurance

• Pet insurance

• Travel insurance if address is used for policy documents

Employer and pension providers

Your employer needs your correct address for payroll, tax records, and HR purposes.

This ensures payslips, P60s, and other documents are accurate.

If you have private pensions, workplace pensions, or SIPPs, notify those providers as well. Pension statements often go missing for years after moves, causing problems later.

Healthcare and government services

Healthcare records are often overlooked because people assume they follow automatically. They do not.

GP and dentist

You should update your address with your GP and dentist.

If you are moving to a different area, you may need to register with a new GP practice.

NHS records

NHS records are linked to your GP registration.

Updating your GP ensures your NHS records are accurate.

Schools and childcare

If you have children, notify schools, nurseries, and childcare providers.

Address changes can affect catchment areas, transport arrangements, and emergency contact records.

Subscriptions and memberships

These are less urgent but still important to avoid missed deliveries or wasted money.

Examples include:

• Mobile phone providers

• Streaming services if address based

• Gym memberships

• Professional memberships

• Clubs and societies

• Magazine and newspaper subscriptions

Updating these prevents items being sent to the wrong address.

Online shopping and delivery platforms

Online retailers often default to old addresses.

Update your address on:

• Amazon

• Grocery delivery services

• Food delivery apps

• Any platform where you save addresses

This avoids parcels going missing or being delivered to new occupants.

Royal Mail redirection

Royal Mail redirection is not a substitute for notifying organisations, but it is a useful safety net.

You can set up redirection for a fixed period, usually three, six, or twelve months.

This helps catch anything you forgot to update, but it should not be relied on long term.

Friends family and personal contacts

It sounds obvious, but many people forget to tell important personal contacts.

Let friends, family, and anyone who sends you mail know your new address.

This is especially important for older relatives or organisations that do not use email.

Selling or renting out your old property

If you are selling or renting out your previous home, there are extra notifications to consider.

Notify:

• Managing agents

• Freeholders if leasehold

• Service charge companies

• Utility providers of final readings

• Insurance providers that the property is no longer occupied by you

This helps close accounts cleanly and avoid disputes.

A sensible order to notify people

To make the process manageable, tackle it in a sensible order.

First focus on legal and penalty related organisations like HMRC, DVLA, and the council.

Next update utilities and financial institutions.

Then move on to insurance, employer, healthcare, and subscriptions.

Finally clean up online accounts and personal contacts.

Doing it in stages avoids overwhelm.

Common mistakes people make when moving house

From real world experience, the most common mistakes include:

• Forgetting to update the V5C log book

• Assuming Royal Mail redirection is enough

• Not taking final meter readings

• Forgetting car insurance address changes

• Leaving council tax accounts open

• Missing HMRC correspondence

Most of these mistakes are easy to avoid with a structured approach.

Keep a simple checklist

A written or digital checklist makes a huge difference.

Tick items off as you go, and add any organisation specific to your circumstances.

This is especially useful if you are moving under pressure.

What happens if you forget someone

If you forget to notify an organisation, act as soon as you realise.

Most organisations will update records without issue, but delays can increase consequences.

If fines or penalties arise, early contact improves the chance of leniency.

Final thoughts from real world experience

Moving house creates more admin than most people expect, but it does not have to be chaotic.

The key is understanding that there is no central update system and that you are responsible for telling each organisation individually.

Prioritise the organisations that can penalise you, then work methodically through the rest. A few hours of organised admin can save months of frustration later.

You may also find why isnt my house selling and do limited companies pay stamp duty useful. For broader property guidance, visit our property hub.