Moving home money checklist: bills, meters, mail and your deposit
The admin that saves money when you move: council tax, meter readings, redirection, broadband exit rights and deposit return
Moving house is expensive enough without paying for services you no longer use or losing part of a deposit over paperwork. This checklist covers the money admin to do in the weeks before and after a move, in the order it usually needs doing.
Four weeks before: contracts and notice
Check the notice period on every service you pay for. Energy suppliers do not need notice, but broadband, mobile, TV and some insurance policies do. Make a list with the end date and the cost of leaving early for each.
Broadband is the one most people get wrong. If your provider cannot supply your new address, Ofcom rules mean you can normally end the contract without an exit fee. If it can supply the new address, it can hold you to the contract, though moving is a good moment to haggle since out-of-contract customers overpay most. If you are inside a contract and the provider has raised prices beyond what was set out in pounds and pence at sign-up, you have 30 days from the notice to leave penalty-free.
Two weeks before: tell the people who bill you
- Council tax: notify both councils online. You are billed daily, so an exact move date matters. If you live alone at the new address, claim the 25% single-person discount straight away.
- Energy: tell your current supplier your move-out date. Your tariff may be portable to the new home. If not, you will be placed on the new home's supplier deal until you switch.
- Water: contact the water company for both addresses. If the new home has more bedrooms than occupants, ask about a meter, which usually saves money in that situation.
- Bank, employer, HMRC, DVLA (driving licence and V5C), GP, dentist, TV licence, electoral roll. Being on the electoral roll at your new address also supports your credit file.
- Insurance: contents cover often needs the new address from the day you move, and buildings cover from exchange if you are buying.
One week before: mail redirection
Royal Mail redirection can be set up for 3, 6 or 12 months and needs around five working days to start. It costs money, but it is cheaper than a missed renewal notice, a lost cheque or a fine for a letter you never saw. Redirection also reduces the risk of identity fraud from post arriving at your old address.
Moving day: meter readings
Photograph the gas, electricity and water meters at the old home as you leave and at the new home as you arrive. Include the meter serial number in the frame. Send the readings to the suppliers the same day. Disputes about closing bills almost always come down to missing readings, and a photo with a timestamp settles them.
If the new home has a smart meter, check it is in smart mode with the supplier. If not, you will need to keep sending manual readings.
After the move: the deposit
If you were renting, your deposit should be in a government-approved protection scheme. Ask for it back in writing as soon as the tenancy ends. The landlord has 10 days to agree the amount or set out deductions. Deductions can only cover unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear or breaches of the agreement. If you disagree, use the scheme's free dispute service rather than arguing by email. Your check-in inventory and dated photos from the day you moved in are the evidence that matters.
Watch out for
- Paying two council tax bills. Overlaps happen if you forget to close the old account.
- The new home's energy tariff. You inherit the existing supplier's default deal, which is often the price-capped standard tariff. Compare once you are settled.
- Direct debits for the old address that keep running. Go through three months of statements after the move and cancel anything that should have ended.
- Forgetting to update your address with lenders. Missed statements can lead to missed payments and marks on your credit file.