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Moving house: the UK admin checklist

Moving home means a burst of admin with real deadlines — council tax, your driving licence, insurance and the electoral roll. Here’s the order to do it in.

Last updated 9 July 2026

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A house move packs months of admin into one week. Work through it in a sensible order and nothing important slips.

The order to do it in

  1. 1
    Line up insuranceMove or arrange home and contents cover to start on completion day — don’t leave a gap.
  2. 2
    Sort energy & broadbandTake meter readings at both properties; arrange your new tariff and broadband to avoid downtime.
  3. 3
    Redirect your postSet up a Royal Mail redirection so nothing important goes to the old address.
  4. 4
    Update the DVLAChange the address on your driving licence and V5C — free on GOV.UK and legally required.
  5. 5
    Handle council taxClose the old account, open the new one with the right local authority.
  6. 6
    Register to voteAdd yourself to the electoral roll at the new address — it also helps your credit file.
Watch out. Updating your driving licence and V5C address isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement, it’s free, and you can be fined for not doing it.
Tip. Don’t forget the smaller address updates: bank, employer, GP and dentist, TV Licence, subscriptions and your insurers’ records.

In short

Around a move, arrange insurance and utilities to start on day one, redirect your post, then update the DVLA, councils and electoral roll. Start a couple of weeks ahead, keep a list, and tick off the address changes so nothing gets missed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I legally have to update my driving licence address?

Yes. You must tell the DVLA when you move so your driving licence and vehicle log book (V5C) show the correct address. It’s free on GOV.UK, and you can be fined for not keeping them up to date.

What about council tax when I move?

Close your council tax account with your old local authority and open one with the new council. Do this promptly so you’re billed correctly and not chased for the wrong property.

When should I start?

Begin a couple of weeks before moving day for things you can line up early (insurance, energy, broadband, post redirection), and do the address changes (DVLA, councils, electoral roll) around the move itself.

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Sources & last checked

Last checked against official sources: 9 July 2026.