Once the boxes are unpacked and the kettle is on, there is one job that is easy to put off but really should not wait: telling everyone your new address. Banks, the council, your doctor, the DVLA, your insurers and a long list of others all need to know where you have moved to. Miss one, and you could face lost post, missed bills, a break in cover, or even a fine.
The good news is that it is simple once you have a list. This guide is that list. Below you will find exactly who to notify when you move house in the UK, grouped in order of importance, along with clear answers to the questions people ask most, such as how to change your address with the DVLA, whether you need to tell HMRC, and how to redirect your post. We move families across Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire every week, so this is the same advice we share with our own customers.
Who do you need to notify when you move house?
At a minimum, you need to tell four groups. First, government and legal bodies, which means the DVLA, HMRC, your local council for council tax and the electoral roll, and the DWP if you receive any benefits or a pension. Second, your financial providers, including your bank, credit card companies, mortgage lender, pension providers and every insurer. Third, your utilities and home services, such as gas, electricity, water, broadband, mobile and TV. Fourth, your health and education contacts, meaning your GP, dentist, optician and any schools or childcare. On top of that, set up Royal Mail post redirection as a safety net and tell your employer, subscriptions and online shopping accounts.
Do these first
If you do nothing else, sort these seven straight away, because they carry the biggest risk if they are missed:
- DVLA (driving licence and V5C log book)
- Local council (council tax and electoral roll)
- HMRC
- Bank and insurers
- Utilities (energy, water, broadband)
- Royal Mail redirection
- GP and dentist
When should you start changing your address?
Start around two to four weeks before moving day, and finish the last few items in the week after you move in. It helps to think about the job in three simple phases.
| Phase | Do this |
| Before you move | Insurance, utilities, Royal Mail redirection, bank, council |
| On moving day | Take meter readings and send them to your old and new suppliers |
| After you move | GP and dentist, DVLA, HMRC, employer, subscriptions, everyday accounts |
Sorting insurance and utilities before you move means your cover and services are ready from day one. Everything else can be done as soon as your date is confirmed. A quick tip that saves a lot of stress: keep a simple spreadsheet or a note on your phone, and tick each organisation off as you go, because moving involves telling more people than you expect.
Who to notify, and when, at a glance
| Organisation | When to notify | What to update |
| DVLA | Before or soon after the move | Driving licence and V5C log book |
| Local council | Around your moving date | Council tax and electoral roll |
| HMRC | After you move | Tax records and address |
| Bank and cards | Before or after the move | Correspondence address |
| Insurers | Before you move | Property and vehicle address |
| Utilities | Around your moving date | Supply address and meter readings |
| Royal Mail | Before you move | Post redirection |
| GP and dentist | After you move | Registration or address |
The complete change of address checklist
Here is the full list, grouped by how urgent each one is. Not every item will apply to you, so use the ones that fit your household.
Government and legal bodies
These come first because getting them wrong can lead to fines or missed legal post. Your driving licence and your vehicle log book are treated separately by the DVLA, so remember to change both.
- [ ] DVLA driving licence. Update your address for free on GOV.UK.
- [ ] DVLA vehicle log book, the V5C. Update this separately, also free.
- [ ] HMRC. Update your details through your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK.
- [ ] Local council. Contact them for council tax and the electoral roll.
- [ ] DWP. Tell them if you receive benefits or a State Pension.
- [ ] TV Licensing. Update your licence to the new address.
When you register on the electoral roll at your new home, you keep your right to vote. Credit reference agencies also use electoral roll information to confirm your identity and address, which can make it easier to be approved for things like a credit card or loan, so it is worth doing promptly.
Banks and financial providers
Keeping your financial details current protects you from fraud and makes sure important post, such as new cards and statements, reaches the right place. Moving house is a time when people are more exposed to identity theft, so this group matters more than it might seem.
- [ ] Your bank and building society
- [ ] Credit card providers
- [ ] Mortgage lender
- [ ] Loans, car finance or leasing agreements
- [ ] Pension providers
- [ ] Savings, ISAs and investments
- [ ] Home insurance
- [ ] Car insurance
- [ ] Life, pet and other insurance policies
Home and car insurance prices are partly based on your address, so your premium may change when you move. Tell your insurer before moving day, because a policy may not cover you at the new address until you do.
Utilities and home services
Sort these around your moving date so you are never left without power, water or internet. On the day you leave your old home, take meter readings for gas, electricity and water and send them to your suppliers, so your final bills are accurate. Our moving day survival guide covers meter readings and the rest of the day in detail.
- [ ] Gas supplier
- [ ] Electricity supplier
- [ ] Water supplier
- [ ] Broadband and internet
- [ ] Landline
- [ ] Mobile phone provider
- [ ] TV and streaming services
Some services can move with you, while others may need a new contract. Check early, because you might need to give notice to end an old contract and avoid an early exit fee.
Health and education
If you are moving to a new area, you may need to register with a new doctor and dentist rather than just updating your address. Do this as soon as possible, because waiting lists can be long and you do not want to be without care if you fall ill.
- [ ] GP or doctor’s surgery
- [ ] Dentist
- [ ] Optician
- [ ] Children’s schools
- [ ] Nursery or childcare
- [ ] Prescription prepaid certificate, if you have one
Work and everyday accounts
These are the ones people forget, but they still matter. Your employer needs your new address for payroll and records, and updating your delivery addresses saves parcels going to your old home.
- [ ] Employer and payroll
- [ ] Workplace pension
- [ ] Solicitor or conveyancer, if you have an ongoing matter
- [ ] Professional memberships or bodies
- [ ] Subscriptions, such as magazines and boxes
- [ ] Online shopping accounts, such as Amazon and eBay
- [ ] Loyalty and reward schemes
- [ ] Gym or club memberships
- [ ] Vehicle breakdown cover
- [ ] Pet microchip registry
- [ ] Friends and family
If you would like this as a one page printable version you can carry around and tick off, just ask and we will send it over.
Moving to or from Aylesbury? You can get a free removals quote from Shiftify Removals in about a minute while you work through your list.
How do I change my address with the DVLA?
You can update your driving licence address for free on GOV.UK, and it is quick to do online. Remember that your driving licence and your vehicle log book, the V5C, are two separate records, so you need to change both. Updating the log book is also free, and keeping it current matters because failing to do so can lead to a fine. You can start both on the official DVLA change of address page. Your new documents usually arrive within a few weeks.
Do I need to tell HMRC when I move house?
Yes. HMRC needs your correct address for your tax records, and it can also affect your tax code, Child Benefit and your State Pension. The easiest way is through your Personal Tax Account or the tell HMRC service on GOV.UK. You can start on the official HMRC change of details page. If you receive any benefits or a pension through the DWP, tell them as well, as this is separate from HMRC.
How do I set up Royal Mail post redirection?
Even with the most careful checklist, one or two companies always slip through, so Royal Mail post redirection is your safety net. For a fee, it forwards post addressed to you at your old home on to your new one, which both catches anything you missed and helps protect you from identity fraud during the move. You can set it up in advance so it starts on your moving day. Prices and options change over time, so check the current details on the official Royal Mail redirection page. It is best used for six to twelve months, which gives you time to catch any accounts you forgot.
Changing council tax and the electoral roll in Aylesbury
If you are moving within Aylesbury or anywhere in the wider area, council tax, the electoral register, bin collections and parking permits are all handled by Buckinghamshire Council. When your move is confirmed, let them know you are leaving your old address and moving to the new one, so your council tax account is closed at the old home and opened correctly at the new one. You can do this on the Buckinghamshire Council website. If you are moving into Aylesbury from another county, you will be closing an account with your old council and opening a new one with Buckinghamshire Council. The same applies whether you are moving in the town itself or in nearby areas like Wendover, Thame, Buckingham or over towards Milton Keynes.
How do I register with a new GP and dentist after moving?
If your move takes you out of your current surgery’s area, you will need to register with a new GP and dentist near your new home rather than simply changing your address. It is best to do this early, because some practices have waiting lists and you want to be covered if you or your family need care. You can find local surgeries and see how to register on the NHS website, starting with the guide on how to register with a GP surgery. If you have a prepaid prescription certificate, remember to update your address on that too.
What happens if you don’t change your address?
Putting it off can cause real problems, which is why it is worth doing promptly. You risk missing important post such as bills, tax letters and new bank cards, which can lead to missed payments. Some insurance policies may not be valid if your address is out of date, which could leave you uncovered when you need it most. You can also face fines for failing to update official records like your vehicle log book. And because unattended post at an old address is a common route for identity theft, leaving things unchanged makes you an easier target. None of this is meant to scare you. It simply shows why a short afternoon of admin is time very well spent.
How to stay organised
The whole job is much easier if you approach it in a calm, planned way rather than all at once. Begin a couple of weeks before you move and chip away at the list. Do as much as you can online through apps and customer portals, since it is far quicker than sitting on the phone. Keep a running list of who you have told and who is still to do, and set Royal Mail redirection so anything you forget still reaches you. If you are moving as a couple or a family, split the list between you so it does not all land on one person.
It also helps to think about your address change alongside the rest of your move. Our house moving checklist sets out the whole timeline week by week, our guide on how long it takes to move house explains what to expect, our first night box guide makes sure your first evening is comfortable, and our moving on a budget guide shows where you can keep costs down.
Final Words
Changing your address is one of those jobs that feels bigger than it is. Break it into the four core groups of government and legal, financial, utilities, and health and education, add Royal Mail redirection as a safety net, and work through the list over a couple of weeks. Do the important official ones first, keep track as you go, and you will avoid missed post, broken cover and unnecessary fines. Then you can properly enjoy your new home.
Why choose Shiftify Removals
Shiftify Removals are an Aylesbury based, family run removals company that takes care of the heavy lifting while you handle the paperwork, so your move is calm from the first box to the last.
Every move comes with a clear price agreed up front, so you always know what to expect. You can read more about us. We offer house removals, packing and unpacking, furniture assembly, storage, and long distance moves.
If you have a move coming up, you can get a free, no obligation quote today and get honest help from a team that knows Aylesbury well.
Change of address FAQs
Who should I notify before moving house?
Before you move, focus on the things that need to be in place from day one: insurance, utilities, your bank, the council, and Royal Mail redirection. Getting these done early means you are covered, connected and receiving your post from the moment you arrive.
What should I change on moving day?
On moving day itself, take meter readings for gas, electricity and water at both your old and new homes, and send them to your suppliers so your final and first bills are correct.
How do I change my address with the DVLA, and do I need to update my V5C?
Update both your driving licence and your vehicle log book, the V5C, on GOV.UK. They are separate records and both are free to change. Keeping the log book current is important, because failing to do so can lead to a fine.
Do I need to tell HMRC I have moved?
Yes. Update your address through your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK, as it affects your tax records, tax code, and things like Child Benefit and your State Pension.
How long should I use Royal Mail redirection?
Six to twelve months is a sensible choice for most people. It gives you enough time to catch any accounts you forgot and to stop old post building up at your former address.
What happens to council tax when I move to another area?
You close your council tax account with your old council and open a new one with the council covering your new home. For Aylesbury and the wider area, that is Buckinghamshire Council. Update the electoral register at the same time.
Do I need to register with a new GP when I move?
If you move out of your current surgery’s area, yes. Register with a new GP and dentist near your new home as soon as you can, since waiting lists can be long.
What happens if I don’t update my address?
You risk missing important post and bills, invalid insurance, possible fines for out of date official records, and a higher risk of identity theft from post left at your old home.
