In This Guide
Coping
It's a dirty job
Move countdown
1. Introduction
2. A date is set
3. 5 weeks before M-day
4. 4 weeks before M-day
5. 3 weeks before M-day
6. 2 weeks before M-day
7. 1 week before M-day
8. 3 days before M-day
9. The day before M-day
On the day
Plan your move
Removal services
Storage services
Move countdown
3 weeks before M-day
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This week, you can have a rest from all that physical exertion. It's not going to be an easy week though. Time to root out your bills, papers, documents and phone book so you can notify all those people you need to tell before you move. There is a full checklist of the people we feel you need to inform in the tell the world section, but these are the people who it can be worth giving advance notice to.
Find details of the nearest branch to your new home or workplace
and arrange to have your accounts transferred there. Make sure
any direct debits or standing orders for your old home will be
cancelled at the appropriate time.
They all need to know to ensure your policies are not voided.
This includes your pension provider, life assurance, buildings
and contents (who you should already have told), private healthcare
such as BUPA or permanent health insurance, your payment protection
insurance provider, and any private clinics you use.
There are various things you can sort out in a single visit to
the post office.
- Inform the post office of your new postal address. You can
arrange to have letters automatically redirected to your new
home, which is usually a lot more reliable than relying on the
new owner. Redirection costs £6 per surname per month, £13 for
three months, £20 for six months and £30 to transfer all the
mail for one surname for a year. An alternative is to have post
held for you, but this is only of any use if you are moving
locally.
- Tell the post office if you have a pension book. They will
need to contact a post office near to your new home as well.
- If you hold premium bonds you will need to notify the Bonds and Stock office. This can also be done at the Post Office by filling in the appropriate form.
- Notify the DVLC in Swansea. It is illegal to have a driving
licence with an incorrect address. You will need a separate
form for your licence and car registration documents. Both are
available from the post office.
- Make sure your vehicle insurance covers you for your new address.
Sometimes the premium you have to pay rises or falls when you
move home.
- Don't forget your breakdown service company, such as the AA or Green Flag. If you break down en route, a really strict recovery officer may insist on taking your vehicle back to your old home, depending on what type of cover you have.
Arrange for someone to come and take a final reading for gas,
water and electricity. It is a statutory requirement to notify
your local electricity office at least 48 hours before you move,
but this is leaving it a little late if you want them to come
and read the meter in time. Get the request in early and then
confirm it nearer the day. Start thinking about which providers
you want to use at the new address - you could save a lot by switching.
- Contact your telephone company to arrange for reconnection
and installation of your new phone line. You don't need to ask
for your current phone to be disconnected. If you are moving
locally, you may be able to retain your existing number. If
you use a paid-for ISP, don't forget to tell them too.
- Notify the providers of all rental and hire purchase agreements.
Find out which pieces of equipment can be taken with you and
which must be re-rented when you get to your destination.
- Inform the provider of any cable or digital television service you receive. Find out if you will still have coverage in your new area.
- Your doctor, optician, vet and dentist all need to know if
you are moving. Make sure you have enough of any prescriptions
you are taking to last until after the move. If you can, try
to get a copy of your medical and dental records, these things
can go astray. See if they can recommend appropriate practitioners
in your new area.
- The Inland Revenue will want to know. They want to know everything.
- Notify old and new local authorities of your change of address.
Arrange to pay or receive a rebate of any outstanding council
tax and set up standing order mandates for your new home.
- Arrange to have your TV licence transferred with the licensing office in Bristol.
- Notify any local services that you will be moving - your gardener, car washer, cleaner, window cleaner or babysitter will all appreciate being in the know as early as possible.
- Give advance warning to any magazines you subscribe to. It won't be long before the new occupant of your home stops forwarding them.
- Notify any professional advisers you have - accountants, financial adviser, solicitor etc.
And last but not least, don't ignore your friends and relatives. Send cards out with your new details and help ensure you won't become a hermit in your new home. If you quite fancy a bit of peace and quiet for a change, you can leave this until later.
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