Short answer: after moving house in the UK, check meter readings, alarms and the stopcock on day one, unpack the bed, kitchen and bathroom first, then use the first week to tell everyone your new address, redirect your post, sort council tax and register with local services. A short list helps, because there is more to remember than you expect.
Day one
- Take meter readings for gas, electricity and water, and photograph them with the date.
- Check the alarms. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace batteries if needed.
- Find the essentials. Locate the stopcock, fuse box or consumer unit, boiler controls and any gas shut-off.
- Keep your keys and documents safe, and note which keys fit which doors.
- Unpack the first night box, then the bed, kitchen basics and bathroom.
First few days
- Check everything arrived and note any damage straight away, in writing, with your removals company.
- Unpack room by room, with boxes labelled by destination room, rather than opening them at random. Our packing guide explains how labelling makes this faster.
- Confirm your utilities and broadband are set up with the right supplier and start date.
Tell people your new address
Work through a list so nothing is missed: banks and building societies, insurers, your employer, GP and dentist, DVLA for your driving licence and vehicle, HMRC, pension providers, TV Licensing, subscriptions and online accounts. Our change of address checklist sets out who to tell and in what order.
Redirect your post
Royal Mail offers a paid redirection service that sends post from your old address to your new one for a set period, so letters follow you while you update everyone. Check Royal Mail for current options.
Council tax and voting
Tell your old council you have left and your new council you have moved in, so council tax is billed correctly. Update the electoral register so you are registered to vote at your new address. Find your council on GOV.UK.
Register with local services
If you have moved to a new area, register with a GP and dentist, and note where the nearest pharmacy and hospital are. If you are moving to be near family, our guide to moving closer to family covers what to think about.
Make it feel like home
Unpack the things that make the house yours early: photographs, favourite chairs, bedding. Our guide to settling in after your move has practical ideas for the first weeks.
Where Chayce fits
Chayce provides settling-in support as part of its full-service packages, including unpacking and setting up your new home, from Silver Comfort at £1,850. Our service is designed with older people in mind and is open to anyone. A Discovery Consultation, £150, gives you a plan. To talk it over, get in touch.
