Moving House and the Forgotten Paper Trail

While most of us are normally aware of the hassle that comes with packing, moving, and unpacking a whole home, we often forget about the sheer mountain of paperwork and admin waiting to be done once we’ve got there.

However, the whole process really needn’t be that stressful. If you’ve already made your moving day a breeze with our complete moving checklist, the following should be all you need to manage your paper trail.

Documents You Need While Moving

If you’ve created a file for important documents you need to keep safe while moving, here’s what should be in it:

Your driving licence and/or passport for proof of identity
Any birth or wedding certificates
National Insurance cards
Your home insurance policy in case of any emergencies
Proof of address at your old home for further identity checks
A copy of your mortgage offer and proof of deposit
House and removal contracts
Booking details and schedules from your removal company
Your new address and directions

How to Redirect Your Post (and for How Long)

Missing out on important post can be an annoying part of moving house and setting up a redirection service is the best way to avoid this. You can do so via Royal Mail; all you need to do is fill out a Redirection Form with the names and dates of birth of everyone in the house who needs their mail redirected, and take the form to your nearest branch with proof of identity and both addresses. You can choose to use the service for three, six, or twelve months – it’s up to you how long you’d like it for but bear in mind it’s best to get mail sent directly to your new address as soon as possible to avoid any potential identity fraud issues.

Getting on the Electoral Register

In order to vote in local and general elections, you need to be on the electoral register. When you move home, you’ll have to re-register with your new address. Luckily, this can be done quite easily online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Bills & Bank Statements

Since bank statements and bills are often used as proof of identity, you’ll want to get all your accounts changed to your new address as soon as possible to avoid identity theft. Don’t forget any bonds, ISAs or pensions you might have, as well as your current and savings accounts.

Insurance, Doctors, and Vets

Claiming on insurance can be extremely complicated if you’ve not taken the time to update your address. A change of address can also affect your premiums, so make sure you’ve let your insurance company know as soon as possible. It’s also important to register with a new doctor right after you move and make sure these details are updated on any health or life insurance you might have. The same goes for your pets.

Subscriptions & Loyalty Schemes

While the new owner of your old house might love getting free magazines or clubcard points delivered to their door, it’s not much fun for you if you’re still paying for it! Make a list of any subscriptions you’ve signed up for, charities you’ve registered with and loyalty schemes you’re part of, then make sure they’re either cancelled or moved to your new address.

Get Your Christmas Cards

Last but not least, you may have informed close family and friends of your move but don’t forget those distant relatives either. A mass email or note card informing people of your new address should work fine; you don’t want to miss out on those Christmas cards from Great Aunty Edna now, do you?

What to Do With Other People’s Mail

While we might have our own paperwork in hand, we can’t always rely on other people to do the same. If you’re still receiving post for the old owner of your new house, here are some things to bear in mind:

If you don’t know the old owner’s new address, the best thing to do is cross out the address on the envelope, write ‘No longer at this address, please return to sender’, and pop it back in a post box.
If you do know their new address, simply cross out the address and write ‘No longer at this address, please forward’, then write the new address.
Keep solicitor details from your move in case you need to contact the previous owner; this might be necessary in the case of any ‘Final Notice’ letters that arrive and need addressing immediately, or if post continues to arrive a long time after you move.
Be aware of reshipping scams; if you’re forwarding parcels for a previous owner who is a member of a reshipping scam, you may be unknowingly complicit in a crime.

As you can see, moving house involves so much more than simply getting your belongings from A to B. Give yourself the time and space to deal with the admin side of moving by letting us deal with everything else; find out more about our removals and storage services, or contact us now on 0800 907 8484 or via our website.

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