Packing boxes is the visible part of moving house. The invisible part, telling the right organisations your new address, is the bit that quietly causes problems weeks later when a fine, a renewal or a tax letter turns up at your old front door. The good news is that it is entirely manageable with a clear list and a sensible order. This guide gives you the complete change-of-address checklist, grouped so you can work through it without missing anything, plus how to use Royal Mail redirection as a safety net. It is written by a Brighton and Sussex removals team that helps people move every week, so you can focus on settling in.
At A Glance
Do The Legal And Financial Essentials First: Your local council, DVLA, HMRC, bank and employer matter most, because missing them can mean fines, missed tax letters or disrupted pay. Some are legal requirements with real penalties, so these go to the top of the list, ideally sorted around moving day rather than weeks later.
Set Up Royal Mail Redirection As A Backstop: Redirection (from around £45) catches the letters you forget, but it does not update your address with the sender and does not cover non-Royal Mail couriers, so treat it as a safety net, not a substitute for notifying people directly.
Let ESV Handle The Heavy Lifting On Moving Day: While you work through your checklist, we handle the move. Deal directly with Peter from quote to final box. Call 07552 555 820 or request a quote at the East Sussex Van website.
Start Here: Your Change-Of-Address Priorities
Not everything is equally urgent. Work in this rough order:
- Legal and safety-critical: council, DVLA, HMRC, electoral register, anything with a penalty for not updating.
- Financial: bank, building society, credit cards, mortgage or lender, pensions.
- Home and utilities: energy, water, broadband, contents insurance.
- Health and family: GP, dentist, schools, vet.
- Everything else: subscriptions, deliveries, memberships, loyalty schemes.
Set up Royal Mail redirection to cover anything that slips through. Now work through the full list below.
Government And Legal
These are the most important, because several carry penalties if you do not keep them current.
- Local council (council tax and electoral roll): tell both your old and new council so your council tax is correct from day one. In Brighton, that is Brighton & Hove City Council.
- Register to vote: you must re-register at your new address; it is free, quick, and being on the electoral roll also helps with credit applications.
- DVLA driving licence: update your photocard licence, it is free and you can keep driving while you wait for the new one.
- DVLA vehicle log book (V5C): a separate record from your licence, so update it too. Updating one does not update the other.
- Vehicle tax Direct Debit and personalised plate documents (V750/V778): update these with DVLA as well if they apply to you.
- HMRC: tell HMRC so tax, National Insurance and any benefits or credits reach you.
- DWP and benefits: State Pension, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and any other benefits.
- TV Licence: update your address so your licence stays valid.
- Passport: the address is not printed in your passport, so it does not need changing for the document itself, but update it where it is held on file if asked.
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your address changes.
Local Pro Tip: Sort Brighton Council Tax And Parking Permits Early
If you are moving within or into Brighton and Hove, tell the council as soon as your dates are confirmed, both to close your old council tax account and open the new one. If your new street is in a permit-controlled zone, apply for your resident parking permit early too, as the seafront and central zones can have waiting steps you do not want to discover on day one.
It is also worth checking your new property's recycling and bin collection days and ordering any caddies or bags you need. These small local admin jobs are easy to forget in the rush, but sorting them early makes the first week in a new Brighton home far smoother.
Money And Finance
Keep your money reachable and your statements going to the right place:
- Bank and building society current accounts and savings.
- Credit card and store card providers.
- Mortgage lender or, if renting, your letting agent or landlord.
- Pension providers and any workplace pension.
- ISAs, investments and share accounts.
- Premium Bonds (NS&I) and any other savings products.
- Student Loans Company, if it applies.
- PayPal and other payment accounts tied to your card address.
Updating your bank also keeps your card billing address correct, which matters for online shopping and fraud checks.
Home And Utilities
Sort these so you are not paying for a home you have left, or arriving to no broadband:
- Energy supplier (gas and electricity): take meter readings at both properties on the day.
- Water company.
- Broadband, landline and mobile providers: book broadband activation at the new place in advance, as it can take time.
- Contents and buildings insurance: update before the move, not after.
- Council bin and recycling services at the new address.
- Boiler cover, breakdown or service plans.
Local Pro Tip: Take Photos Of Every Meter
On moving day, photograph the gas, electricity and water meters at both your old and new homes, with a timestamp if you can. It is the simplest way to avoid a dispute over a bill later, because you have clear evidence of exactly where each meter stood the moment you left and arrived.
Do the same with the condition of a rental property if you are a tenant, as dated photos protect your deposit. It takes five minutes and saves a great deal of back-and-forth weeks down the line.
Insurance And Cover
Insurers need your current address, and getting this wrong can invalidate a policy:
- Car insurance: your address affects your premium and must match your V5C.
- Home and contents insurance: cover the new address from the day you are responsible for it.
- Life insurance.
- Pet insurance.
- Private health or dental insurance.
- Travel insurance, if it is an annual policy.
Health And Family
So you and your family stay registered and reachable for care:
- GP surgery: register with a local practice if you are moving out of your current one's area.
- Dentist and optician.
- Any hospital or clinic you are under for ongoing care, so appointments follow you.
- Children's schools and nurseries, and the local authority if you are changing schools.
- Vet, and update your pet's microchip details, which is a legal requirement for dogs and cats in England.
Work, Subscriptions And Everything Else
The long tail that redirection will otherwise have to catch:
- Employer (HR and payroll), and your pension scheme.
- Subscriptions and deliveries: streaming, magazines, meal kits, regular online orders.
- Online retailers you order from often, such as Amazon, so parcels do not go to the old address.
- Loyalty and membership schemes, gyms, clubs and professional bodies.
- Charities you donate to, and your will or solicitor if your address is recorded.
- Friends and family, with your new address once you are settled.
Set Up Royal Mail Redirection As A Safety Net
No matter how thorough your list, something always slips through, an annual renewal, a dormant account, a one-off letter. Royal Mail redirection forwards post from your old address to your new one, so it acts as a backstop during the transition.
Our Redirection service ensures that your mail moves with you.
A few practical points:
- Cost: redirection starts from around £45 for one person for three months, rising to roughly £95 for twelve months, with reduced concession pricing for those on Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Prices are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure when you apply.
- Per person: each adult needs their own redirection, so two adults pay more than one.
- Apply early: set it up at least five working days before you move; you can apply up to six months ahead.
- It is a safety net, not a fix: redirection does not update your address with the sender, so you still need to notify organisations directly.
- It does not cover every courier: parcels sent by non-Royal Mail couriers such as DPD, Evri, DHL or Amazon Logistics are not redirected.
Many people choose twelve months, partly because Action Fraud recommends a longer redirection to reduce the risk of identity theft from post arriving at your old address.
Local Pro Tip: Tell The New Occupants You May Get Stray Post
Even with redirection set up, the odd letter can reach your old address in the first few days, or once the service expires. If you are on friendly terms with the new occupants, let them know they may receive the occasional piece of your post and ask them to set it aside or pop it back in the post.
It is a small courtesy that prevents your bank statements and renewals sitting in a stranger's hallway, and it is worth doing the same in reverse, holding any mail for the previous occupants of your new home and returning it.
When To Tell Everyone
A rough timeline keeps it manageable:
- 2 to 4 weeks before: councils, DVLA, banks, insurers, utilities, broadband activation, and book your Royal Mail redirection.
- The week of the move: confirm utility switch dates, finalise broadband, and prepare meter-reading reminders.
- Moving day: take meter readings and photos at both properties, and check redirection is active.
- The first 2 weeks after: GP, dentist, schools, vet, subscriptions, employer if not already done, and anything redirection catches.
For a calmer move overall, our guide on how to avoid a stressful house move pairs well with this checklist, and first-time buyers will find the wider moving process explained there too.
How ESV Helps While You Tick Off Your Checklist
Notifying everyone is your job, but the physical move does not have to be. While you work through your address changes, we handle the packing, lifting and transport, so the two halves of moving, the admin and the muscle, are not both landing on you at once. We cover house moves across Brighton and Sussex, completion day moves, packing and storage if your dates do not quite line up.
Ready To Plan A Calm Move In Brighton Or Sussex
If you want the moving-day side handled while you sort the paperwork, we are happy to help. You will deal directly with Peter from the first message to the final box, with careful handling, clear prices and proper insurance.
To get started, request a quote for Brighton and Sussex removals and we will confirm crew size, access and timing. Call 07552 555 820 or get a quick quote via the East Sussex Van website, and for real local moves and tips, follow us on Instagram. We also follow our eco pledge, reusing and recycling boxes with a take-back option and running paperless quotes and bookings.
Key Change-Of-Address Terms
Change Of Address
The process of updating your new home address with every organisation that holds it, from government bodies to subscriptions, so post and records follow you.
Council Tax
The local tax on residential property. You must tell both your old and new councils when you move so your account is closed and reopened correctly.
Electoral Roll
The register of voters at each address. You must re-register when you move, and being listed also helps when you apply for credit.
V5C Log Book
The vehicle registration document showing the registered keeper's address. It is a separate DVLA record from your driving licence and must be updated separately.
Royal Mail Redirection
A paid Royal Mail service that forwards post from your old address to your new one for 3, 6 or 12 months, acting as a safety net during the move.
Meter Reading
The recorded figure on your gas, electricity or water meter. Taking readings at both homes on moving day prevents billing disputes.
Direct Debit
An automatic payment from your account, such as council tax or vehicle tax. Some, like DVLA vehicle tax, need updating when you move.
Concession Redirection
Reduced-price Royal Mail redirection for people receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Registered Keeper
The person responsible for a vehicle on DVLA records, including keeping its address up to date, which may differ from the legal owner.
Microchip Details
The contact and address information linked to a pet's microchip. Keeping it current is a legal requirement for dogs and cats in England.
Frequently Asked Questions: Who to Notify When You Move House
Who do I legally have to notify when I move house?
Your local council (council tax and the electoral roll), the DVLA (both your driving licence and V5C log book) and HMRC are the notifications with real legal weight.
Failing to update the DVLA can mean a fine of up to £1,000. You should also update the DWP if you receive benefits, and your TV Licence. These belong at the top of your list because the consequences of missing them are financial and immediate.
Is it free to change my address with the DVLA?
Yes. Updating both your driving licence and your V5C vehicle log book is free through the official GOV.UK service.
They are two separate records, so updating one does not update the other, and both carry a fine of up to £1,000 if not kept current. You can keep driving while you wait for the new documents to arrive.
Do I need to tell DVLA if I move away temporarily, like for university?
Not necessarily. If your move is temporary and the DVLA can still reach you at your permanent address, you do not need to update it.
If you are moving permanently, both your licence and V5C should be updated. If in doubt, the safest option is to update your records.
How much does Royal Mail redirection cost, and how long should I redirect for?
Redirection starts from around £45 for one person for three months and rises to roughly £95 for twelve months, with reduced concession pricing for those on Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Each adult needs a separate redirection, and prices are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure when you apply. Many people choose twelve months because it covers annual renewals and one-off letters, and because Action Fraud recommends a longer redirection to reduce the risk of identity theft.
What does redirection cover, and does it update my address for me?
No. Redirection only forwards your post; it does not tell the sender your new address, and it does not cover parcels from non-Royal Mail couriers.
You still need to notify each organisation directly. Parcels sent by DPD, Evri, DHL or Amazon Logistics are not redirected, so update your address with the retailers you order from. Treat redirection as a safety net for what you forget, not a replacement for updating your address at the source.
Do I need to tell both my old and new council?
Yes. Tell your old council so they close your council tax account and refund any overpayment, and tell your new council so your account opens correctly from the day you move in.
In Brighton, both sides are handled by Brighton & Hove City Council, but if you are moving between areas you will deal with two separate authorities.
What should I do about utilities on moving day?
Take meter readings for gas, electricity and water at both your old and new properties on the day, and photograph each meter as evidence.
Notify your suppliers of the readings and your move date, and book broadband activation at the new home in advance, as it often takes longer than people expect.
Do I need to update my address for my passport?
No. Your home address is not printed in your passport, so the document itself does not need changing when you move.
You only need to provide your new address where it is held on file, such as during a future application or renewal.
What about my pet when I move?
Update your pet's microchip details with your new address, which is a legal requirement for dogs and cats in England, and register with a local vet.
If your pet is insured, update the policy too so cover stays valid.
Can you help with the move itself while I handle the admin?
Yes, that is exactly what we do.
While you work through your change-of-address list, we handle packing, lifting and transport across Brighton and Sussex, including completion day moves and storage if your dates do not line up. You deal directly with Peter throughout, so the moving-day side stays calm and organised.
Who do people most often forget to notify?
The usual culprits are pension providers, the electoral roll, NS&I premium bonds and savings, annual insurance policies, your employer's payroll, your vet and pet microchip details, and online retailers.
A twelve-month Royal Mail redirection is the best safety net for catching these, but it is still worth updating each of them directly.
About the author...
Peter Hawes is the director of ESV Removals Ltd, a family run Brighton and Sussex removals team known for calm planning, careful handling and clear prices. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every move from first message to the last box and brings local know how for permit zones, tight stairwells and seafront buildings. ESV is fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews and recognised with two SME Southern Enterprise Awards. The company follows an eco pledge that prioritises Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuses boxes and runs paperless bookings. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com.
