Knowing who to notify when moving house saves you weeks of chasing post, missed appointments and bills sent to the wrong door. This checklist covers everyone a Bradford household usually needs to tell, from the council and Yorkshire Water to the DVLA and your dentist. Tick items off as you go, or print the page and stick it on the fridge.
Before you start: gather the basics
Most of these updates take a few minutes online, as long as you have the details to hand. Keep these in one note on your phone:
- your new full address and postcode
- your moving date (and the date you leave the old home, if different)
- account numbers for each supplier
- meter readings from both homes on moving day
- your National Insurance number and driving licence number
A change of address checklist works best when it runs in order. Some people need weeks of notice and some only need to hear on the day, so we have split this list by timing.
Four to six weeks before the move
These need the most notice.
- Landlord or letting agent. If you rent, check your tenancy for the notice period and give it in writing. Keep a copy.
- Employer. Update your address with payroll so your payslips and P60 go to the right place.
- Schools. If your children are changing school, apply through Bradford Council school admissions as early as you can. In-year places in popular parts of the district can take time.
- Removal firm. Book your movers early, especially for Fridays and month ends. Our house removals team can hold a date once you have a rough idea.
- Broadband and phone. Providers often need a few weeks to set up a line at a new address, so start the move early.
Two weeks before the move
Bradford Council
One council, several departments. Tell each one that applies to you.
- Council tax. Use the online form on the Bradford Council council tax pages. The council asks you not to report a move more than 14 days ahead. Our guide to council tax when moving house in Bradford explains final bills and discounts.
- Electoral register. Register to vote at your new address on gov.uk. It also helps your credit file.
- Parking permits. Bradford now uses virtual permits linked to your number plate. If your old street had a resident scheme, update or cancel it. If your new street has one, apply through the parking permits page. Streets near the city centre, the University and the hospitals are worth checking.
- Garden waste. If you pay for the garden waste bin, tell the council, as the subscription is linked to the address.
Utilities
- Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water supplies most homes across the Bradford district. Tell them your moving date through yorkshirewater.com so you are billed for the right dates at each address. Give a meter reading if your home has a meter.
- Gas and electricity. Tell your supplier the date you are leaving. At the new home, find out who supplies it and give opening readings on the day.
- Home insurance. Move your cover to the new address from completion day. Contents cover in transit is worth checking too.
One week before the move
Money and work
- Bank and building society. Update every current account, savings account and credit card.
- HMRC. Tell HMRC your new address using the gov.uk change of address service. This covers income tax and National Insurance.
- Pensions. Update any workplace or private pensions, including old ones from previous jobs.
- Benefits. If you get Universal Credit, Child Benefit or other benefits, report the change, as it can affect payments.
- Mobile phone, subscriptions and online shops. Update billing and delivery addresses so parcels do not go to the old house.
TV Licence
A TV Licence covers an address, not a person, so a TV licence when moving house needs updating with your new address. Do it online through TV Licensing. Students moving into shared houses on separate tenancies may need their own licence rather than one for the whole house.
Royal Mail redirection
Set up Royal Mail redirection about a week before you go. It forwards post from your old address for a set period and catches anything you forget to update. You will need proof of identity and proof of your old address, so apply before you pack those documents away.
On or just after moving day
Health
- GP. If your new home is outside your practice’s catchment, register with a new surgery. Use the NHS find a GP service and read how to register with a GP surgery. If you are moving within Bradford, your current practice may still cover you, but tell them your new address either way.
- Dentist. Dentists do not have catchment areas in the same way, so you can stay with yours if it is still convenient. If not, use the NHS find a dentist search.
- Opticians, pharmacy and hospital clinics. Update your address with each one, especially if you have repeat prescriptions or follow-up appointments.
Driving
- Driving licence. Update your address with the DVLA on gov.uk. It is free to do online, and you can be fined for not doing it.
- Vehicle log book (V5C). Update this separately for each vehicle you own.
- Car insurance and breakdown cover. Your postcode affects your policy, so tell them straight away.
Pets
- Microchip database. Update your pet’s microchip details with your new address. Our guide to moving house with a cat or dog covers the rest.
- Vet. Register with a vet near your new home if your current one is too far away.
Once you have settled in
- Bins. Check your bin collection dates for the new address. Bins belong to the property, so if any are missing, you can request new ones from the council.
- Friends and family. Send your new address to anyone who posts cards or parcels.
- Clubs, gyms and memberships. Update any direct debits linked to the old area.
- Online accounts. Check saved addresses with delivery services, supermarkets and takeaway apps.
- Redirection review. Look at what is still being redirected after a month. Anything still arriving means someone has not been told.
A tip from moving day
Put this list, your new keys and your phone charger in one bag that travels with you, not in the van. On a busy day it is easy to pack the very document you need to update an account. Our house moving checklist covers packing and planning week by week.
If you would like help with the heavy lifting while you work through the paperwork, get a free quote or call us on 08000862860. We move homes across the Bradford district and anywhere in the UK, every day of the week.
Planning a move in Bradford?
Get a free, no-obligation quote, or try the cost calculator for a rough idea first.
