Change of address explained — who to tell when you move (UK)

A change of address is the process of updating your home address with everyone who holds it — official bodies, financial providers, employers and the many everyday services that post or contact you. Done properly when you move, it prevents missed post, lapsed insurance and the headache of important letters going to your old home.

Who you typically need to tell

• Government: your local council (council tax and the electoral roll), the DVLA (driving licence and vehicle log book), HMRC, and the NHS via your GP and dentist
• Money: banks, building societies, credit cards, pensions, and any insurers (home, car, life)
• Home services: energy, water, broadband and TV providers
• Everyday: employer, subscriptions, online shops and loyalty schemes

Royal Mail redirection

Royal Mail offers a paid redirection service that forwards post from your old address to your new one for a set period (commonly three, six or twelve months). It's a useful safety net for anyone you forget, but it's a backstop, not a substitute for updating your address directly — redirected post is a prompt to go and change your details with that sender.

Make it manageable

The trick is a single checklist so nothing is missed, worked through in the weeks around your move. Our free change of address checklist and moving house checklist keep it all in one place, and our moving house guide covers the wider move.