Guide to moving home

Planning ahead can make moving less stressful. Before you move, you can:

• declutter and start packing
• keep your old home clean so you have less cleaning to do when you move out
• speak to services about changing your address
• make a to-do list
• book professional cleaners

It can help to write down everything you have to do and when. For example:

• give back keys for your old home
• pick up keys for your new home
• pay any fees and your first rent or mortgage payment

A moving house checklist covers things like packing and redirecting mail.

Moving house checklist (Which?)

Before you move, it can help to declutter. Get rid of anything you do not need. This means you will have less to move.

If there are things you do not need, you can:

• sell them
• give them to friends and family
• donate them to charity
• recycle them or put them in the bin

You can ask family, friends and carers to help with this.

Selling things

You can sell things online using websites like: 

• eBay
• Facebook Marketplace
• Gumtree
• Vinted

If you cannot access your local post office, you can order a collection from the Royal Mail online.

Parcel Collect (Royal Mail)

You can donate unwanted things like clothing, furniture, books and household items to charity.

You can take them to a charity shop or ask the charity to pick them up from your home.

Which charities collect furniture for free (Safestore)

Some charity shops have limits on how many bags you can donate at one time. Sometimes, they do not want certain types of items. Contact them in advance to make sure they will accept your donation.

You can also take clothing to clothing banks.

Find clothing banks near you (ClothingBanks)

Unused disability equipment

If you have disability equipment you no longer need, you can donate or recycle it.

Donating and recycling used disability equipment

Recycling and waste

If you have a lot of waste or recycling, check if there is space in your bins.

Some councils will collect bulky rubbish and recycling from your home. You might have to pay for this.

Search your local council’s website for how to manage recycling and waste in your area. 

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You can also advertise items that people can collect for free on: 

• Freegle
• Freecycle
• FreelyWheely
• Reuse Network

Get help with decluttering 

You can ask for help from family and friends. 

There are not usually services to help you organise your home, unless you need support because of hoarding.

If you can afford it, you could pay professional cleaners to help you with decluttering and cleaning.

Hoarding

Hoarding is a condition where people find it hard to get rid of things. Sometimes people have so many things in their home that they find it hard to manage. If you find it hard to get rid of things, you can get help from organisations that support people with hoarding:

• Hoarding disorders UK
• Hoarding Support
• Hoarding UK

Your local council might also have a service to support people with hoarding.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You might have to pay for support with hoarding. Ask the organisation how much they charge for their services or if it is free.

Here are some suggestions to help you organise your packing. Choose what works for you:

• Make a list of everything you must do. Give yourself as much time as possible.
• Label boxes, for example ‘bathroom’, ‘kitchen’, ‘bedroom’.
• Make sure boxes are not too full or too heavy.
• Use bubble wrap or fabrics to protect fragile items like TVs or mirrors.
• Ask friends and family to help. 
• Have a box of important things to unpack first, for example medicines, kettle, snacks, pyjamas, bedding, toothbrush and toothpaste. 

It is also a good idea to protect the floors with cardboard or a sheet when you are moving furniture. This prevents damage. If you damage the floors, you might not get your deposit back.

Find packing boxes

Ask family and friends if they have any packing boxes you can use.

You might be able to get free or cheap boxes from websites such as:

• Facebook Marketplace
• Gumtree
• Freegle
• Freecycle
• FreelyWheely
• Reuse Network

You can also ask local shops if they have any boxes you can take for free.

You might have to clean your old home when you move out. Ask your landlord or check your contract to find out what you must do.

You might not get your deposit back if you do not clean the home. 

If you have pets, check your tenancy agreement to see if there are other conditions for getting your deposit back.

How to get your deposit back (Shelter)

You can ask family and friends to help.

If you can afford it, you can pay for a professional cleaner.

You can ask friends and family to recommend a cleaner. Or search for cleaning companies that other people in your area recommend on these websites:

• Cleaners (Trust a Trader) 
• Checkatrade

Treat online reviews with caution.

It might be easier to move if you move into your new home before you leave your old home. This means you do not have to move everything in one day. But you can usually only get benefits to pay for one home at a time.

Claiming benefits for two homes (Shelter)

You can ask friends and family to help you move. If someone you trust has a car or van or can hire one, this might be a cheaper option than a removals company.

Using a removals company 

If you can afford it, you can pay a removal company to help you with packing, moving and unpacking.

You can ask friends or family to recommend a removal company. Or search these websites for removal companies recommended by people in your area.

• House removals (Trust a Trader) 
• Checkatrade

You can apply for Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council to help pay for the cost of packing and moving.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

Some councils have relocation grants. This is money to cover removal costs. Contact your council to find out if they offer relocation grants and if you are eligible. 

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

If you have carers, ask them if they can work extra hours to support you while you move.

You might be able to get grants.

Disability grants

Getting things for your new home

You may be able to get financial support to buy essential items for your new home, such as:

• furniture
• white goods, like a fridge and cooker
• Carpets

You can also get cheaper furniture from charity shops.

The previous occupants of the new home should leave wheelie bins for you. If they do not, contact your council to get new ones.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

Let people know you that you have a new address. For example:

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you get benefits
• your local council because your Council Tax might change
• your GP
• your bank
• your employer
• your mobile phone network
• social services if you have carers or use equipment to help with your condition
• the DVLA if you have a driving licence
• school if you have children

Gas, electricity, water and internet accounts

Your bills for utilities like gas, electricity, water and internet are linked to your address. You will need to change them when you move.

It can take a while to set up internet. You could contact an internet provider before you move so you do not have to wait as long.

Take meter readings when you move out to make sure you pay the right amount on your last bill.

Moving house – dealing with your energy supply (Citizens Advice) 

Redirect your mail

You can also use the Royal Mail redirection service. They will redirect any mail sent to you at your old address to your new address.

You can set it up in advance to start on the day you move. You can pay for 3, 6 or 12 months. There are discounts if you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

Redirect your mail (Royal Mail)

If you move to a new area, you might have to change some of the services you use to help manage your condition.

GP, dentist and hospital

If you move to a new area, you might have to change your:

• GP
• dentist
• hospital services

Ask your GP and dentist services if they cover the area where your new home is. If they do not, you will have to register with a different GP and dentist.

If you use any hospital services, ask them if they cover your new area. If they do not, they can make a referral to another hospital. 

Find services near you (NHS)

Social care 

We have more information on moving if you have social care needs because of your condition. This includes: 

• Personal assistants, care workers and support workers
• Home adaptations
• Disability equipment and assistive technology 

Social care when you move

If you do not get any social care but think you might be entitled to it, ask your new local council for a social care needs assessment.

Getting a social care needs assessment

Many people find moving home stressful. It could take a long time to sort out everything for your move. 

Start to organise as soon as you can. Take regular breaks. Make sure you look after your health.

If you are working, take some time off if you can.